30 September 2006 - Korea, USA and Russia in gold at Shanghai World Cup !

Korea, USA and Russia in gold ! Shanghai, 30 September 2006   Team Recurve Men – Gold Medal Match – KOR vs. TUR Another Korean Gold and World Record! After a slow start with a 9-8-9 first end, the Korean men shot mainly 10s to finish their gold medal match with an easy victory 227-213 over Turkey. They also beat at the same time the 48-arrow Final Match World Record with a total of 454 points. The Turkish archers of FITA President Dr. Erdener have been the revelation of this last World Cup Series (Turkey also won silver in Team Women Recurve). Their way to the Recurve Men Gold Final was not easy at all, as they faced some of the best teams in the world. After Japan (213-208) in the 1/8 round, they successively defeated Belarus (212-207) – recent European champion – and Chinese Taipei (214-211). Regularity has certainly been the key for the Turkish men who scored 213, 212, 214 and 213 in their four matches here in Shanghai.   Team Recurve Women – Gold Medal Match – KOR vs. CHN Korea shakes but does not break… Festive atmosphere for today’s third team match between China and Korea! The numerous local fans had all hopes alive to make their opponents bow down for the first time in a long time, as they were still leading before the last 9 arrows. The Korean young ladies started with unusual low shoots, looking as if they were not yet awake. But as soon as they could take the lead after the third Chinese archer shot a bad 6, they did not let go another victory and closed the match with an 8-point lead (214-206).   Team Compound Men – Gold Medal Match – USA vs. MEX USA Compound Men strong as always! The Americans took revenge in the second match of the day with their men defeating Mexico 230 to 226. Leading by 4 points in each of the first four ends, Cousins and the two Wilde brothers (Reo and Wilde) had to get their full concentration again after their opponents got back to only 2 points difference (141-139 and 170-168). But with a perfect last two ends and 60 new points, USA proved once again more was needed to have them bow down! Cousins is shooting again this afternoon in the individual gold final to Salvadorian Jimenez.   Team Compound Women – Gold Medal Match – USA vs. RUS The Russian ladies over the Americans The first match of the day was featuring the Compound Women teams from Russia and USA who were competing for the gold medal of the team competition. Taking benefit of a slow start from Davis, Colin and Van Natta (7-8-10) in the first end, the Russian archers put pressure on their opponents starting the match with a 10-10-8 series. They could then manage to keep their lead up to the very end to win gold by a 2-point lead (222-220). Goncharova and Kazantseva have gained some more confidence before their individual matches this afternoon – the latter will compete again to Van Natta for the bronze, before her teammate Goncharova will shoot for gold to Ochoa (MEX).   Ludivine Maitre Wicki FITA Communication