23 May 2007 - The biggest ever World Cup in Antalya?

The biggest ever World Cup in Antalya? Lausanne - 23 May 2007   Stage 3 of the Meteksan Archery World Cup takes place in Antalya, Turkey from 28 May to 2 June. With 48 countries and more than 300 archers registered, this stage may set a participation record. The archers will look for World Cup points but will also prepare for the upcoming World Championships in Leipzig, Germany next July.   The Antalya event, also known as the 20th Golden Arrow tournament, has a long tradition and promises to be exciting again this year. It is the stage 3 (out of four) for the Meteksan Archery World Cup 2007 and some archers will lose all their hopes if they do not achieve a good result.   Recurve Men The battle will be again terrific with the representatives of the top two teams in the world, Korea and Italy. Many other archers will be in ambush: the World Cup leader Tsyrempilov (RUS), the young French Aubert and Girouille, the Chinese Xue Haifeng or the Ukrainians Ivashko and Bekker. We can also mention Wills, Terry and Godfrey (GBR), Moriya (JPN), Rai (IND) and Petersson (SWE).   Recurve Women The Korean dream team is coming as well and the likes of Park Sung Hyun, Lee Sung Jin, Lee Tuk Young or Choi Eun Young will take on the rest of the world. Their main opponents will be current World Cup leader Erdyniyeva (RUS), Zhang Juan Juan (CHN), Valeeva (ITA), Banerjee (IND), Schuh and Dodemont (FRA), Cwienczek and Mospinek (POL) as well as Marusava (BLR).   We will have a special look on the performances of the recent Indoor World Champion Hayakawa (JPN) and the Turkish hosts such as Nasaridze and Satir.   Compound Men Gellenthien (USA) and Jimenez (ESA) met in the final of the last World Cup stage in Varese at the beginning of May. They looked in such a great shape that they may do it again. However, it is always a dog fight for the top 10 places among compound men archers and many are looking for revenge, including Brasseur and Genet (FRA), Zamaninejad (IRI), Hofer (SUI), Logan Wilde (USA), Van Zutphen and Elzinga (NED), Damsbo (DEN) and Dos Santos (BRA).   Compound Women Two archers are in great shape nowadays. First, Bouillot (FRA) set the world record for a FITA round at 1404 points in Varese during the qualifications. However, Willems (BEL) broke it just a few days later and set it at an astonishing 1411 points. Will they confirm in Antalya and will they fare well in the shorter 12 arrow matches? We will also wait for a confirmation from Varese winner Ericsson (SWE) and the surprising Akram (IRI). They will take on the “fabulous four”: World Champion and World Cup Winner Goncharova (RUS), her team-mate Kazantzeva, as well as the Americans Van Natta and Davis.   We are looking forward to enjoying a full week of superb archery!   Didier Miéville FITA Communication