30 September 2006 - Flash Interviews from Finals

Flash Interviews from Finals Shanghai –  30 September, 2006 Photo (C) www.dutchtarget.com : Sofia Goncharova (RUS) Sofia Goncharova (RUS), winner in compound women’s individual and team: Sofia, the Russian team seems unbeatable in compound women and you have won the last three World Cups individually. Do you think you have a real edge going into the World Cup in Final in Mexico on October 22 ? The matches are actually closer than it sometimes seems. On a 12 arrows match, it only depends on one or two arrows. Individually, if I look at my record vs. Anna (Kazantzeva), it’s pretty much 50%- 50%. We’ll see in Mexico who can adapt the best to the circumstances.   Linda Ochoa (MEX), 2nd in compound women: Linda, how was your first final at a World Cup level ? I enjoyed it a lot ! Maybe I was even a bit too relax and I didn’t shoot too well - 107 pts were clearly not enough to win.   Will it give you confidence for the future ? Yes certainly. I hope to reach more finals. My next objective is the Pan American Championships in Rio de Janeiro next November. This is a key event in preparation of the Pan American Games at the same place in July 07. I will have to see how I can combine my studies in Hospitality Management & Tourism with my training.   Jamie Van Natta (USA), 4th in compound women: Jamie, your 4 losses in the World Cup this year came against Goncharova and Kazantzeva. Do you have a Russian complex ? No I clearly don’t ! I intend to beat them when it matters the most : at the World Cup Final in Mexico next month.   How did you enjoy this tournament in Shanghai, China ? It was interesting. When you do a tournament abroad you always get a taste, some impressions of the local culture. There was a big crowd for the final day here and that was really enjoyable. I wish I could visit and see more of the city. However, I must say that, in the bus from the hotel to the field, I often listen to music and close my eyes. This is my way to relax and prepare for the competition.
Photo (C) www.dutchtarget.com : Dave Cousins (USA)  Dave Cousins (USA), winner in compound men: Dave, coming here, your only chance to qualify for the World Cup Final in Mexico was basically to win this stage in Shanghai. You did it ! How does it feel ? I won a new Balmain watch ! Do you want to know what time it is ?… Seriously, I knew it would be all or nothing, but I felt comfortable with the pressure. I actually got pretty angry with myself in the first round, when I went to a shoot-off and earned only a 9 with my first arrow. I thought I was done. I was given a second chance and I took it. It has been quite a ride, wining a couple of matches with a one point margin, but I am very relieved that I did it. I am very happy I came to Shanghai and finally shot my best archery at a World Cup event. Sorry for Jorge, (Jimenez) whom I have beaten on his birthday. He is one of the finest compound archers in the world, and we’ll meet again in Mexico !   Outside the competition, did you have a chance to visit the city ? A little bit. I think it is enjoyable that Shanghai and China have developed so much in recent years. We have an extra day tomorrow so we’ll take the chance to visit a bit more. I want to go to the famous Oriental Tower downtown.   Do you sometimes regret that you shoot a compound bow and therefore can’t go to the Olympics in Beijing 2008 ? I actually started archery shooting a recurve bow. I could do well at a national level but that wasn’t good enough for me and I have never felt I could be one of the best in the world in this division. I have no regret at all that I have switched to compound.   Dominique Genet (FRA), 4h in compound men and eliminated for the World Cup final: Dominique, going into the bronze medal match here in Shanghai, you knew you absolutely had to win to go to Mexico. You looked perfectly calm in appearance, how were you inside ? A bit more nervous than I appeared… On a 12 arrows match in compound, you have little room for errors. If you lose a point in one or two arrows, the pressure just gets bigger. I started the match well, but then I had a bad “end” (three arrows). My opponent shot 117 and didn’t give me a chance to come back in the game.   How big is the deception ? It is big… I think I rather lost my chance in the semis against Dave Cousins. I was leading the match and shot a couple of bad arrows, which allowed him to tie the game. Then he won in the shoot-off. I hope it will be better next year.   Vitor Sidi Neto (BRA), 3rd in compound men: A bronze medal at a World Cup event after the win of your teammate Dos Santos in Antalya… What an achievement for you and for Brazil !... Yes ! It pays back for all the years of training ! I started archery in 94, I shot my first international tournament in 96 and was 4th at the Junior Worlds in 98… Since then, it has been a long way to this first World Cup medal ! I always kept the fun in archery but I also have practiced so much…   And now you have the Pan-American Championships and Games coming to Brazil… We hope to win more medals ! It will be exciting !   Lee Tuk Young (KOR), 3rd in recurve women’s individual, winner in team: How did you enjoy this competition in China ? It was good ! Especially the team final against China. There was a lot of public and a lot of ambiance, tension. I enjoyed that ! Qian Jialing (CHN), the leader of the World Cup ranking, could not participate here (due to appendicitis operation). I hope I can play against her in the World Cup Final. If I have confidence in me and I know I can win.   Park Sung-Hyun (KOR), winner in recurve women’s team: Why do the Korean women always win ?... Ha-ha… Maybe the other teams should learn Korean and come practice with us… More seriously, some other teams are getting really good, especially the Chinese team. It is competitive and the margin for errors is narrow. We didn’t start our final well here. On one game, everything is always possible, but the team that wins is also the one that adapts the bests to the circumstances of the day.   Photo (C) www.dutchtarget.com : Park Kyung Mo (KOR)
Park Kyung Mo (KOR), 2nd in recurve men: You are getting famous for your results and your… sun-glasses. What’s the story ? Ha-ha… It is not just sun-glasses, they are also corrective. I prefer to wear them than contact lenses.   How did you like the atmosphere in Shanghai ? I love it when they are a lot people, a big atmosphere. It has been fun to shoot here. I like the World Cup system, where the field of archers is very competitive.   How would you judge the difference between the Korean women and the men ? I don’t think there is a women’s style and a men’s one per say. Everybody is a bit different and must make the most of his ability. Maybe the women are a bit more dominant worldwide, but I think this is because the competition is higher by the men. They are more countries with very top archers.   Yong Fujun (CHN), 3rd in recurve men: How does it feel to be the best Chinese in you own World Cup in Shanghai ? It feels good, but let’s not forget the women, who made 2nd in team… Individually, the level across the team is pretty consistent. I was feeling really good this whole week in Shanghai and, today, the cheering of all the fans and my teammates lifted me up to this bronze medal.   It seems the whole Chinese team will reach its maximum potential for the Olympic Game in 2008. How do you feel about this ? Yes, I hope to improve every year and reach the top in 2008. I must get more international experience, especially in final games with a lot of crowd. When I came into the national team, as a Junior in 95, I was dreaming about the Olympic Games. Now I hope I can participate.     Didier Miéville FITA Communication