18 April 2008 - Europe Greedy for Gold in the Compound Division

Europe Greedy for Gold in the Compound Division
Porec – 18 April 2008
 
The Team Elimination matches were competed on Friday up to the semi-finals. It will be Italy and Sweden fighting for victory in the Compound Men division. On the women's part France and Great Britain will strive for the gold medal.
Below our live commentaries of the selected matches.
Compound Men   1st round: Netherlands - El Salvador
What a match by the Dutch team in the first round this morning! Indeed they shot seventeenth 10s out of 24 arrows. Although they had a quite consistent shooting themselves with ten 10s, thirteen 9s and one 8, the team of 2007 World Cup winner Jorge Jimenez (ESA) could not hang in. The score was 59-56 for the Netherlands after the first end. Then, the Dutch kept increasing their lead (116-112 and 175-170) to finish on a 231-225 victory.
  1st round: Iran - Croatia
This match was close at the beginning with 57-56 in favour of the Iranian team after the first end. They then doubled their advantage at the half-way mark with 114-112. With a following 10-10-10-9-9-9 series, the Iranians took a 5-point lead, as their local contenders shot 9-10-10-8-8-9 (171-166). The last end would not turn it over and Iran clinched victory on the score of 225-219.
  Quarter-final: France - Italy
Italy first took the lead with 10-9-10-10-10-9 (58) versus 8-9-X10-X10-10-9 (56) over the new World Record holders (note: France beat the Team Elimination World Record on Wednesday). The French archers managed to recover 1 pt and come back close at the half-way mark (115-116), thanks to an almost perfect end of 29. However, they started the third end with an 8 and were trailing by 3 with only six arrows to go (170-173). Though they tried their best in the last end, they could not recover from that bad arrow and had to leave victory to the "Azzurri". Final score: 229-227 for Italy.
  Quarter-final: Netherlands - Australia
The Dutch archers had the best start with 9-8-10-10-10-10 (57) in their match to the Australians (X10-9-10-9-8-10/56). The two teams followed with a 29-point series each to maintain the difference (116-115). In the third end the Dutch managed to double their lead at 173-171. However, the "Aussies" made their effort in the last six arrows, and with five 10s and a 9, they could turn the situation over to their benefit and clinched victory by 230-228.
  Semi-final: Italy - Great Britain
Italy took the lead first by 1 pt shooting 57 versus Great Britain with 56. In the second end, however, the Italians could only do 9-9-10-8-9-10. It was their turn to trail by 1 (112-113) after their contenders shot 10-8-10-9-X10-10. The third end was to decide the winner already, since the "Azzurri" shot perfectly with six 10s and took a comfortable 6-point advantage (172-166). The last six arrows would not change the story and Italy overcame Great Britain 229-223 to shoot in the gold final on Saturday.
  Semi-final: Sweden - Australia
What a great match again! It was Australia starting the strongest with 10-9-10-X10-10-10 and 59 pts. Sweden was not far behind with 58 (X10-9-X10-9-10-10). However, the "Aussies" then shot an 8 at their eighth arrow and the lead changed over to the Swedes (113-115). In the third end the Australian archers took benefit of a 7 by their opponents to tied the match at 170 with only six arrows to go. One could think of a shoot-off after Sweden shot 9-9-X10-10-10-9 and Australia 10-10-10-9-9*-9. But the last-but-one arrow by the Australians was very close to the line and after the judge verified it, it was indeed an 8. Victory was thus taken by the Swedish men for one little point (227-226)!
   Compound Women   1st round: Italy - Croatia
Croatia started well with 10-8-8-10-10-9 (55) and took a 1-point lead over Italy who shoot 8-9-10-9-9-9 (54). However, in the second end the situation changed completely. With three 9s and three 8s the Croatian ladies lost it all and were trailing by 4 pts at the half-way mark (106-110). The last two ends only allowed the Italian team to increase their lead (162-154 and 215-208) to finally beat the local favorites.
  1st round: Spain - India
In their match versus the team of Spain, the Indians did not face real opposition. They took the lead after six arrows 52-50 and never let it go afterwards. At the half-way mark Spain was trailing by three (102-105) and could only hope for a recovery. But shooting an 8 and a 7 in the third end, while their opponents managed a triple 10 and a triple 9, the Spanish ladies were then 6 pts behind with only six arrows to go (154-162). The last end would not change anything and India clinched victory by 214-205.
  1st round: Iran - Brazil
The two teams were tied 106 pts each at the half-way mark. The Iranian archers then managed two 10s with their 13th and 16th arrows, which gave them the advantage, after their opponents from Brazil did two 7s at their 17th and 18th arrows (160-155). The South-Americans came back a little at the beginning of the last end thanks to three consecutive 10s (185-188). But for an unknown reason they finished with 8-5-3 (16 out of a possible 30) and offered a comfortable victory to Iran. Final score: 209-201.
  Quarter-final: Italy - Belgium
Belgium took a 3-point lead after six arrows at 53-50. The Italians managed to recover 2 pts shooting two 10s and four 9s in the second end (106-107). However, with a six in the third end, they gave up all hopes in this match and were trailing by 4 with six arrows to go (158-162). Disheartened, the Italians shot a 9-9-9-8-8-7 last series, and with 9-10-9-9-7-10, the Belgians clinched an easy victory by 216-208.
  Quarter-final: Russia - Germany
The Russians took benefit of a very bad start by their contenders from Germany to take an early 4-point advantage (53-49). The German ladies seemed under shock and left three more points behind to trail 101-108. However, they could achieve a better third end of 55 to regain one point (156-162), but at the end they could only bow to the Russians who took victory by 217-206!
  Semi-final: France - Belgium
Led by Amandine Bouillot who will be shooting for gold tomorrow in the individual event, the French team had the best start in the first semi-final (57-55). With a double 10, a double 9 and a double 8 in the second end, the French ladies could keep their advantage at the half-way mark, since their neighbours from Belgium also shot 54 pts (111-109). It was in the third end that France was to settle victory down adding 56 pts to their quiver whereas Belgium shot 53. With a 5-point lead (167-162), Bouillot and teammates could allow themselves to manage the end of the match. As the team of Gladys Willems only scored 52 pts in the last end, the French (with 57) clinched an easy victory by 224-219.
  Semi-final: Russia - Great Britain
The semi-final between Russia and Great Britain was tied at 55 pts each after the first six arrows. With an excellent 59-point second end, team Great Britain could take a comfortable 5-point lead (114-109) over the Russia of Sofia Goncharova, 2006 World Cup winner. There was nothing to do anymore for the Russians against the British who set a new national record in this match with 226 pts! Final score: 226-219.
 
Ludivine Maitre Wicki
FITA Communication
 
NB: X10 and 10 are both worth 10 points. X10 were mentioned for information whenever possible. The arrows are mentioned in order whenever possible.