Grey-out on the horizon for archers in Riom

Wind appeared in the early hours of the day, and quickly destroyed the rightful podium hopes of several recurve archers such as Celine SCHOBINGER (SUI) and Christine BJERENDAL (SWE) for the women, or Massimiliano MANDIA (ITA).

The French compound archer Pascale LEBECQUE, who was eliminated in the quarter-finals by Julia OLEKSEJENKO (LAT) as she turned 24 years old today, would have loved to celebrate her birthday differently: “I would have preferred winning my spot into the semi-finals, but it is true that it was very windy and I managed the situation poorly”, explained LEBECQUE. “I shoot with a new finger trigger which I do not yet control enough and I also paid for that. Nevertheless, this will enable me to bring some adjustments; the season is only starting. I therefore must put things into perspective and even if I hate losing, perhaps particularly today, it gave me the opportunity to be congratulated by people whom I normally do not see this date”, concluded LEBECQUE.

However, other favourites qualified for the semi-finals. Croatian Ivana BUDEN and Frenchman Dominique GENET in compound, and German Karina WINTER in recurve women will attend on Saturday. In recurve men, the Riom resident Gael PREVOST and Luxembourgish Jeff HENCKELS (photo) confirmed the forecasts and also advanced to the semi-finals. They will be joined by Thomas AUBERT (FRA) and by the quarter-finals’ sensation, Spaniard Antonio FERNANDEZ, who comfortably dominated Larry GODFREY (GBR) by 6-0.

Follow the results of the competition here. The live info systems is available here.

Stay tuned for the team events tomorrow, on our website and on the French Federation website and facebook page.