29 March 2007 - Archery World Cup 2007 starts in Ulsan!

Archery World Cup 2007 starts in Ulsan! Lausanne - 29 March 2007   The 2nd edition of the Meteksan Archery World Cup starts for Ulsan (KOR) next week. More than 250 archers from 34 countries have registered to the event and they have one goal in common: earn points and qualify for the World Cup Final at the end of the season!   The competition in Ulsan (KOR) from April 1-6, promises to be interesting. The participation in Recurve Men and Women is truly impressive as some archers start their preparation for the next Olympic Games. The best Compound archers will also make the trip and there will be two categories: the ones looking to confirm an excellent 2006 season and the ones definitely looking for revenge.   Recurve Men The host Koreans are of course among the favourites, lead by 2006 World Cup winner Park Kyung Mo as well as recent Asian Champion Im Dong Hyun. Their main contenders are the Italian golden trio: Di Buo, Frangilli and Olympic Champion Galiazzo. The experienced Petersson (SWE) made the trip as well as three good performers from last year: Yong Fujun, Xue Hai Feng (CHN) and Eduardo Magana (MEX).   The archers that want to improve on last year are: Van Alten and Pieter Custers (NED), Cuddihy (AUS), Rai Tarundeep (IND) and Laurence Godfrey (GBR). We’ll also keep an eye on the recent Junior World Champion, Girouille (FRA).   Recurve Women World Cup winner, Zhang Juan Juan (CHN), defends her title. Her toughest opponent is her young team-mate and rising star Qian Jialing. They take on a truly Korean dream team: Olympic and Asian Champion Park Sung Hyun, Yun Mi Jin, Yun Ok Hee and Lee Tuk Young. The experienced Williamson leads a strong British team with Folkard and Burgess. The Italians count on Tonetta and a come-back from Valeeva.   Some archers showed strong potential last year and will try to meet their expectations: European Champion Gallardo (ESP), Wu Hui Ju (TPE), Banerjee (IND), Satir and Nasaridze (TUR), Mospinek and Marcinkiewicz (POL).   Compound Men The 2006 World Cup Winner Reo Wilde (USA) is accompanied by his brother Logan. However, their famous father Dee seems to be heading to a well-deserved retirement from high level competition. The strongest contenders to the USA are a talented French team: European Champion Brasseur, Genet and Dardenne. Count as well on the experienced Jimenez (ESA), Elzinga and Emiel Custers (NED). Hofer (SUI) will once again play the role of the dark horse.   The ones looking for revenge after a poor 2006 season are: 2005 World Champion Lundin (SWE), 2003 World Champion Freeman (AUS), Sitar (SLO) and White (GBR). Watch for the development of Pagni (ITA) and the young Damsbo (DEN).   Compound Women The fabulous four will keep up the fight: World Champion and World Cup Winner Goncharova (RUS), her team-mate Kazantzeva, as well as the Americans Van Natta and Davis.   However, many archers want to take their place on the podium: European Champion Soemod (DEN), recent Indoor World Champion Salvi (ITA), Simpson (GBR), Hansdah (IND) and Paz (PHI).   This year the Meteksan Archery World Cup features a complete FITA round during the qualifications (4x 36 arrows at four distances), and then the archers go into the exciting single elimination match play (12 arrows only).   The program in Ulsan is: April 1: Opening Ceremony April 2: Qualifications in Recurve Women and Compound Men April 3: Qualifications in Recurve Men and Compound Women April 4: Individual Eliminations matches April 5: Team Eliminations matches and medal matches April 6: Individual medal matches   We are looking forward to an exciting season!   Didier Miéville FITA Communication