14 March 2007 - Indoor World Championships: USA, Russia and Denmark show strength in the qualifications

USA, Russia and Denmark show strength in the qualifications Izmir - 14 March 2007   The American men dominated the qualifications with Shawn Rice taking first place in Recurve while Reo Wilde, once again, led in Compound. Miroslava Dagbayeva (RUS) surprised the world in Recurve Women and Camilla Soemod (DEN) showed that she is a true favorite in Compound.   The competitions of the 9th Indoor Archery World Championships officially started today with the qualifications round. All the archers shot 60 arrows and tried to make the cut. The top 32 archers and the teams qualified for the elimination matches later this week.   Recurve Men At 1st and 3rd place, Rice and Wunderle showed the Americans are deep in archery. They scored 592 pts and 588 pts. Olympic Champion Galiazzo (ITA) took 2nd while Furukawa (JPN) was 4th. We’ll also mention Wills (GBR) at 10th, Frangilli (ITA) at 11th, Badenov (RUS) at 15th and Hirstov (BUL) at 18th. Anything is still possible with single elimination match play. Rice will meet 32nd placed Ginzel (GER). The winner only will continue to shoot in these Championships.   The Juniors follow the same principle. After the qualifications, Tedford (USA) is ahead of Shamatrin (UKR) and Samoylov (RUS).   Recurve Women The young Dagbayeva (RUS) was quite surprising today scoring 589 pts, three above her immediate followers, Folkard (GBR), Valeeva (ITA) and Erdynieva (RUS). The 2003 World Champion, Schuh (FRA) is 6th ahead of Berezhna (UKR) and Unruh (GER). Silver medalist in 2005, Dorokhova (UKR) qualified at the 12th place.   In Juniors, the surprising Pan (TPE) led Fedorova (RUS) and Struyf (BEL).   Compound Men The 2006 World Cup Winner, Reo Wilde (USA) and finalist, Dave Cousins (USA) edged the other Compound Men. Wilde scored 597 out of a possible 600! The Italian Pagni (ITA) reached 3rd place ahead of two French, Deloche and Genet, Elzinga (NED) and Boccali (ITA). During the matches tomorrow, the top 16 will be ferocious…   The biggest surprise of the day came from Lundin (SWE). The current Outdoor and Field World Champion failed to qualify finishing at a disappointing 34th place. The Swedish said, half-joking: “I shot well today but not in the middle… I will now prepare for the World Cup Stage 1 in Ulsan (KOR) and hope to do much better there.”   In Juniors, it’s Wickliffe (USA) – van Huffel (FRA) – Greco (ITA).   Compound Women With 589 pts, Soemod (DEN) edged Van Natta (USA) with one point. American teammate Collins and Pagel achieved 586 and 584 pts. The 2006 World Cup winner Goncharova (RUS) also had 584 together with the veteran Agudo (ESP), and Salvi (ITA) got 581 pts. There was a one arrow shoot-off for the last qualifying place. Le Balch (FRA) shot a 10 and Babinina (LTU) only 9. The French qualified in the 32nd place.   The Juniors were dominated by Nicely (USA), Mozhaikina (RUS) and Ioannou (GRE).   All the qualified archers come back tomorrow for the match play until the quarter-finals. The individuals will be followed by the team.   Didier Miéville FITA Communication