Qualifications started in San Salvador
San Salvador - June 21, 2006
Goncharova (RUS) shows she is in great shape in compound women and Di Buo (ITA) edges the recurve men.

Qualifications started in San Salvador

San Salvador - June 21, 2006

China takes the first 4 spots in recurve women, while the USA completes a top 3 finish in compound men. Goncharova (RUS) shows she is in great shape in compound women and Di Buo (ITA) edges the recurve men.

The country of El Salvador is welcoming the top archers in the world for the 3rd stage of the Meteksan Archery World Cup. In the Americas, the archers shoot a whole FITA round during the qualifications. It means the men release 36 arrows respectively at 90, 70, 60 and 30 meters while the women go for 70, 60 50 and 30 meters. It also implies that the local Organizing Committee is offering medals to the top three archers at each distance.  The archers takes care of the long distances on Wednesday and the shorter ones on Thursday.

Recurve Women

The recurve women and the compound men took the field in the afternoon session. The Chinese gave little room to their opponents. Zhang Juan Juan was simply the best at 70 meter with 328 pts, while Qian Jialing, winner at the last World Cup in Antalya less than two weeks ago, was 3rd. The good surprise came from Brito (VEN) who scored 321 pts for 2nd place.

Yu Hui (CHN) took the front stage at 60m, scoring 344 pts for a best total of the day at 663 pts. Guo Dan (CHN) was close with 338 pts and 657 pts aggregate. Folkard (GBR) saved the honour of the Europeans with 3rd place at 60m with 335 pts.

In teams (adding the points of the top 3 archers per country), China is of course in the lead followed by Great Britain and Italy.

Compound Men

Reo Wilde (USA) made his mark in compound men with a superb 697 pts aggregate. He topped the 70m range with 355 pts and was only beaten by Cousins at 90m. Brother Logan Wilde ranks 3rd in aggregate with 690 pts (340 and 350 pts). The European was represented in front with Damsbo (DEN) - 3rd at 90m - and Elzinga (NED) – 2nd at 70m. The Brazilians Sidi Neto and Dos Santos follows.

In teams, USA tops the field ahead of Netherland and Brazil.

Wietse Van Alten (NED)

All Photos (c) Dean Alberga & FITA

Recurve Men

Di Buo (ITA) showed all his experience topping the men’s competitors at 90 meter with 316 pts. He was also 4th at 70 m. and therefore currently leads with a total of 651 pts. Teammate Frangilli (ITA) followed closely at 90m with 314 pts as well as Custers (NED) with 313 pts.

Van Alten (NED) was regular with 4th place at 90m and a 3rd one at 70m. Two archers made spectacular come back at 70m, Wunderle (USA) being the best with 337 pts at this distance, followed by the bronze medalist at the last World Cup in Antalya, Hristov (BUL), with 335 pts.

In teams Italy leads ahead of Mexico and Great Britain.

Photo :Arminda Bastos (MEX)

Compound Women

After his victory in Antalya less than 2 weeks ago, Goncharova (RUS) confirmed her excellent shape winning both distances. She scored 345 pts at 70m and 350 at 60m. Guedez (VEN) showed some good consistency with 2nd rank at 70m (342 pts) and a 5th one at 60m. Bastos (MEX) was strong in the early morning with 340 pts at 70m. Simpson (GBR) and Van Natta (USA) came up stronger at the 60m range, taking respectively 2nd and 3rd rank.

In teams, it’s USA in front of Mexico and Venezuela.

A total of 179 archers, 24 countries, take part in theses qualifications, in details :

Recurve Men : 53 archers - 13 teams

Recurve Women : 44 archers - 12 teams

Compound Men : 48 archers - 11 teams

Compound Women : 34 archers - 7 teams

Didier Miéville

FITA Communication

Compound Women Podium at 70m

All Photos (c) Dean Alberga & FITA