29 September 2006 - From Shanghai to Mexico: the race to the World Cup Final

From Shanghai to Merida: the race to the World Cup Final Shanghai, 29 September 2006 On Thursday, the eliminations day of the Shanghai World Cup was truly a race to the World Cup Final in Merida, on October 22nd. Many athletes were competing to get the necessary points to be in the top 4 of their category. We now know all of the laureates, except for the Compound Men. Flashback on an exciting day!   Compound Men Dave Cousins (USA) had to go all the way. He is still alive. He survived a second arrow shoot-off in his first round, then got his revenge versus Ruben Ochoa (MEX), passed Hofer (SUI) for one point and won another shoot-off in his semi against Genet (FRA). The Frenchman still has a chance to go to Mexico, but he must absolutely win his 3rd place match in Shanghai Saturday vs. Sidy Neto (BRA). Currently in the World Cup ranking Elzinga (NED) has 41 pts. Cousins and Genet have a minimum of 41 pts. If they win their match Saturday, they will both qualify. If they lose, it will go to the ”tie-breaker”, which is the FITA World Ranking. Elzinga would have the advantage in front of Cousins and then Genet.   On the other side of the draw Jimenez (ESA) went all the way to the final in Shanghai, and therefore qualified for Merida as well. Reo Wilde (USA) lost a shoot-off in the quarter, but this was enough to join the Mexican party. The disappointment was for Logan Wilde (USA), Ochoa (MEX), Hofer (SUI), Dos Santos (BRA) and Custers (NED) who were all contenders at the starting line but lost their way.   Compound Women The loss of Almendra Ochoa (MEX) in the first round (106-109 vs. the Indonesian Heliarti) made it easier for the other pretenders. The quarter-final between Van Natta and Davis (USA) could have been deadly, but the 5th place of Davis was enough at the end to qualify for Mexico. There, she will meet Van Natta again, Kazantzeva (RUS), shooting for bronze here in Shanghai, and Goncharova (RUS). The latter will shoot for gold in Shanghai versus Almendra Ochoa’s sister Linda.   Recurve Men Some early upsets turned to be not costly at the end. Talukdar (IND) lost in the second round versus Di Buo (ITA) and probably thought is chance was over. However his 38 World Cup points were enough at the end to ensure a place in the Mexican Final. Di Buo (ITA) went on to beat Petersson (SUE), but the latter still got 6 World Cup points in Shanghai bringing him to a total of 37 pts. This was just 1 point enough to qualify and stay above two other Italians. Galiazzo made the quarter in Shanghai to reach only 36 pts, while Frangilli was eliminated in the 1/8 getting 34 pts. Di Buo will be in Mexico and in the 3rd place match in Shanghai vs. Yong Fujun (CHN). On the other side of the draw, Park Kyung Mo (KOR) went all the way to the final in Shanghai where he will meet his teammate Jang Yong Ho. However, only Park Kyung Mo qualified for the Mexico final on the Korean side.   Recurve Women One woman was really lucky and she is named Tonetta (ITA). She was second in the World Cup ranking with 33 pts before Shanghai but she lost in the first round. She was lucky many other pretenders also suffered early exit and archers like Williamson (GBR) or Mospinek (POL), despite some good showing, could only reach 26 or 24 pts. Moreover, Zhang Juan Juan (CHN) lost in the 1/8 and could only equal the 33 World Cup points. She loses in the tie-breaker (the FITA World Ranking) versus Tonetta.   On the other hand, the two Koreans, Lee Tuk Young and Yun Ok Hee had a good day. They both qualified for the World Cup Final in Mexico. Yun Ok Hee will play for the gold medal match in Shanghai as well vs. teammate Yun Mi Jin. Lee Tuk Young will shoot for bronze vs. Wu Hui Ju (TPE).   Qian Jailing (CHN) was already qualified for the World Cup Final reigning on top of the ranking with 62 pts.   Didier Miéville FITA Communication