29 May 2008 - The young Brady Ellison (USA) makes his way to the gold match in Antalya

The young Brady Ellison (USA) makes his way to the gold match in Antalya
Antalya - 29 May 2008
 
The afternoon in Antalya was dedicated to the Recurve Men and Compound Women eliminations. After superb matches in the morning we were looking forward to other great performances! In the Recurve Men category the 20-year old American Brady Ellison defeated two Koreans on his way to the gold final. He will face another competitor from Korea, Im Dong Hyun. In Compound Women the World Champion from Italy Eugenia Salvi will meet the US lady Jamie Van Natta, winner of the first World Cup stage in Santo Domingo.

Recurve Men 1st round: RUBAN Viktor (UKR) - NESPOLI Mauro (ITA)
Tight match between the no. 13 qualifier Ruban and the no. 52 Nespoli! After six arrows the Ukrainian led by 1 point 56-55. Both archers then shot three 10s, two 9s and one 7, so that the difference did not change and Ruban took victory by 111-110.
      1st round: KIM Jae Hyeong (KOR) - PETERSSON Magnus (SWE)
The Korean Kim faced the experienced Swede Petersson, European Champion in 2006. Petersson had a bad start shooting three 7s in the first end (7-10-7-10-10-7). He trailed by 4 pts (51-55) after his opponent scored 10-8-8-9-10-10. Kim continued stronger with 10-10-10-9-9-9 and increased his advantage to 7 pts (112-105).
  1st round: STEVENS Juan Carlos (CUB) - TSYREMPILOV Baljinima (RUS)
Though not shooting very well in the first match, the 2007 World Cup Final winner from Russia faced no real problem to advance to the second round. He led 54-51 after the first six arrows. Tsyrempilov then increased his advantage to 5 pts to beat the Cuban Stevens by 108-103.
      1st round: SULAIMAN Muhammad Marbawi (MAS) - GALIAZZO Marco (ITA)
The Olympic Champion Galiazzo put on a great performance in his first match of the afternoon. He started with 59 out of a possible 60 with his first six arrows (10-X10-10-9-X10-10). He enjoyed a comfortable lead of 4 pts over Sulaiman who shot an honourable 55 series (10-9-9-9-9-9). Galiazzo continued on the same pace with 9-10-10-9-10-10 to finish with a superb score of 117. He proved too strong for his opponent from Malaysia who finished with 10-8-8-7-9-9 and 106 pts.
  2nd round: KIM Jae Hyeong (KOR) - ELLISON Brady (USA)
The American Ellison came from behind in his match against the Korean Kim. He shot 9-8-9-8-10-9 (53) and trailed by 1 point after six arrows (six 9s for Kim). However, he adjusted his shooting in the second part of the match. He improved his score with 10-9-10-10-9-10 to finish with a 111 total and put pressure on his opponent. The Korean could only manage 9-9-9-10-9-10 and bowed out with 110.
      2nd round: LEE Chang Hwan (KOR) - WUKIE Jacob (USA)
In another Korean-US duel the newcomer Wukie stood up to the no. 5 seed Lee. After six arrows the two archers were tied at 55 pts. With an 8 on his seventh arrow the American lost all hope of creating the first upset of the afternoon. He went on with a strong 10-10-10-9-9 series but could only total 111 pts. With 10-9-10-10-10-9 (113) Lee continued to the next round.
    2nd round: DI BUO Ilario (ITA) - GALIAZZO Marco (ITA)
In this 100% Italian match the Olympic Champion Galiazzo faced his teammate Di Buo, currently 2nd in the World Cup ranking. This promised to be a close match and it was! Galiazzo led by 1 point at the half-way mark with 9-10-10-8-9-10 (56) versus 10-9-9-8-9-X10 (55) for Di Buo. The two archers shot the same score in the second half: 10-9-X10-9-8-10 for Galiazzo and 9-9-X10-8-10-10 for Di Buo. The Olympic Champion thus kept his slender lead (112-111) and clinched victory.
      2nd round: IM Dong Hyun (KOR) - TSYREMPILOV Baljinima (RUS)
The no. 3 seed Im from Korea faced the 2007 World Cup Final winner Tsyrempilov of Russia. The latter suffered from a bad start (8-9-8-9-10-10). His opponent opened with three 10s and three 9s to lead by 3 after six arrows (57-54). Although Tsyrempilov improved his shooting in the second part of the match with X10-9-9-9-10-9 (110), he could not recover. Im shot even better with X10-X10-10-9-9-10 to win with 115 pts.
    2nd round: KIM Ha-Neul (AUS) - PRILEPAU Anton (BLR)
The no. 6 qualifier from Australia was pushed to a triple shoot-off by his opponent from Belarus. The two athletes were tied at 108 after 12 arrows. They both shot a 9 and then an 8 and could not decide on the winner. A third and last additional arrow necessary... Finally, the winner of the Olympic Test Event in 2007, the Australian Kim, hit the 10 ring to win the right to continue to the third round (9 for Prilepau).
  3rd round: LEE Chang Hwan (KOR) - ELLISON Brady (USA)
The no. 5 seed from Korea and no. 12 from the USA could not decide on the winner without a shoot-off! In the first end they both shot four 10s and two 9s to tie up at 58. Then Ellison scored 9-X10-9-9-9-9 (113), whereas Lee shot 9-10-X10-8-9-9 (113). The 20-year old American proved more solid in the tie-break with a 10 versus an 8 for his opponent. Ellison beat a second Korean in a row!
    3rd round: RUBAN Viktor (UKR) - TALUKDAR Jayanta (IND)
The no. 4 qualifier and 2006 World Cup finalist Talukdar faced the experienced Ukraininan Ruban. The two athletes were tied at 54 pts at the half-way mark. An 8 by Ruban at the seventh arrow was enough to ruin his hopes... Although he finished strongly with 9-9-10-10-10-10 (110), he could not beat his opponent's 10-9-10-10-9-9 (111).
    Quarter-final: KIM Konstantin (KAZ) - PARK Kyung-Mo (KOR)
World Cup 2006 winner Park (no. 2) was against the surprising archer of Kazakhstan Kim (no. 42). The latter started with an amazing first end of X10-10-10 to take a 3-point advantage over Park (9-9-9/27). The Korean recovered one point in the second end for a score of 56-58 at the half-way mark. His opponent from Kazakhstan lost the benefit of his good start in the third series of three arrows when he shot 26 pts (8-10-8). With 9-10-10 (27) Park took the lead. Kim could not hold his nerve any longer and with another bad end of 25 he lost a great chance to shoot on the beach on Saturday (109-114).
    Quarter-final: ELLISON Brady (USA) - TALUKDAR Jayanta (IND)
The young American (no. 12) continued his onward march against the no. 4 seed, the Indian Talukdar. The latter had the best start, however, with 28 pts versus 26 for his opponent. Ellison clawed his way back and trailed by only one point at the half-way mark (53-54). The third end did not change the situation and he was still behind by 1 (82-83). Ellison produced his best effort in the last three arrows shooting a perfect end with three 10s! As Talukdar scored only 9-8-X10, the American qualified for the semi-finals (112-110).
    Quarter-final: IM Dong Hyun (KOR) - KIM Ha-Neul (AUS)
The match between Im and Kim was very tight. The Korean had the best start with 28 pts versus 26 for the Australian. The latter recovered and tied the match at 54 at the half-way mark. However, he lost 1 point in the following three arrows (82-83), and he could not recover it in the last end (110-111).
  Semi-final: BANERJEE Rahul (IND) - ELLISON Brady (USA)
The Indian Banerjee trailed by 1 point after three arrows in his match against the young American Ellison (28-29). The difference did not change in the second end with Banerjee trailing behind by 1 (55-56). With a triple 9 versus 9-9-8 for his opponent, Ellison then doubled his lead to 83-81. However, he shot another triple 9 series, but Banerjee finished stronger with 9-10-10 to tie the match at the very last arrow (110-110). Ellison recovered his best shooting in the tie-break and released a perfect X10 (9 for Banerjee) to win the match and shoot for gold on Saturday.
  Semi-final: IM Dong Hyun (KOR) - PARK Kyung-Mo KOR)
The two teammates who were seeded no. 2 (Park) and no. 3 (Im) had to do battle in the second semi-final. They both started with 10-9-9 (28), but Im then took the lead after six arrows with X10-9-10 (57) versus three 9s (55) for the 2006 World Cup winner Park. The latter lost the match when he scored a 7 at his ninth arrow. He trailed by 6 with only three arrows to go (80-86). With a final X10-10-10 end Im flew away and easily beat his fellow countryman by 116-107.
    Compound Women   In this category the competitors started in 1/16 elimination, as they were only 29 to enter the event.
      3rd round: HUNT Nicky (GBR) - LAURILA Anne (FIN)
The Briton started with 10-10-10-9-9-9 and scored 57 after six arrows. Her opponent from Finland tied the match with 10-10-10-10-9-8 (57). Both opened the second half with an 8, but Hunt then followed with 10-9-10-9-9 to finish with 112 pts. Laurila scored 1 point less with 9-10-9-8-10 (111) and paid the price, conceding victory.
    3rd round: GONCHAROVA Sofia (RUS) - BOLOTOVA Oktyabrina (RUS)
The 2006 World Cup Final winner Goncharova faced her teammate Bolotova in the 3rd round. She had the best start with 56 pts after six arrows. Bolotova was one point behind at that time with 55. In the second half of the match Goncharova doubled her lead, shooting one 10 and five 9s (111), while her fellow countrywoman scored 8-10-10-9-9-8 (109).
    Quarter-final: GONCHAROVA Sofia (RUS) - BUDEN Ivana (CRO)
The new pearl of Croatia, 2nd at the World Cup Stage 1 in Santo Domingo, took a big step onwards in view of a qualification for the World Cup Final this year. Against World Cup 2006 winner Goncharova, Buden trailed after the first three arrows (27-28) but overtook her at the half-way mark (56-55). The two young ladies remained close and Goncharova regained the lead back with only three arrows to go (82-81). Buden managed to tie the match at 108 and they had to go to a shoot-off. Goncharova shot an X10 and Buden a 10. In the second tie-breaker the Croatian hit the X10 ring, while her opponent from Russia shot a 9 very close to the 10 ring. Buden qualified for the semi-final!
    Quarter-final: SALVI Eugenia (ITA) - ZORMAN Tanja (CRO)
Another very tight quarter-final in Compound Women! The 2007 World Champion from Italy took the lead after three arrows (29-27) but was tied by her opponent at the half-way mark (57-57). Then it was Zorman's turn to take a 1-point advantage thanks to 9-10-9 (85) against 9-9-9 (84) for Salvi. The Italian drew on her experience in the last end and scored a perfect X10-X10-10 (114) to clinch victory by 1 point (9-9-X10/113 for Zorman).
    Semi-final: VAN NATTA Jamie (USA) - BUDEN Ivana (CRO)
After an easy way to the semi-final, the no. 1 qualifier Van Natta faced the 22-year old Croatian Buden. The American took an early lead with 10-9-10 (29) in the first end against 9-9-9 (27) for her opponent. She then increased her advantage to 3 pts at the half-way mark (58-53) and kept it after 9 arrows (85-82). Although Buden had a nice 10-10-9 last series (111), she could do nothing against Van Natta's perfect triple 10 (115).
  Semi-final: SALVI Eugenia (ITA) - SOEMOD Camilla (DEN)
The second semi-final was between the no. 3 Salvi and no. 7 Soemod. The Dane started perfectly with 10-10-10 (30) and took a 1-point lead over World Champion 2007. The Italian came back and tied at 58 after six arrows. She then took advantage of an 8 by her opponent at the seventh arrow to take the advantage 86-85. With a final 10-10-9 Salvi doubled it to clinch victory by 115-113 (9-9-10 for Buden).
     
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.