31 May 2008 - Korea and Italy help themselves to the World Cup Stage 3

Korea and Italy help themselves to the World Cup Stage 3
Antalya - 31 May 2008
  
Today was the last day in Antalya with the individual final matches! The World Cup Stage 3 had already put on great performances during the week with two World Records by the Koreans. Everyone was therefore looking forward to other superb matches on the beach! Korea was crowned in Recurve with Im Dong Hyun winning another gold medal in the men's category and new World Record holder Yun Ok Hee in the women's. In the Compound division Italy handed itself two victories thanks to Sergio Pagni and World Champion Eugenia Salvi.  Read our live commentaries of all afternoon matches!     Recurve Men
    Gold Medal: ELLISON Brady (USA) - IM Dong Hyun (KOR) The last match features the reigning World Champion and Team World Record holder Im and the 19-year old Ellison. The latter has the best start with 9-10-8 (27) versus 8-9-9 (26) for Im. However, the Korean turns the score to his advantage in the second end thanks to a perfect end (10-X10-X10). Ellison shoots 8-9-9 and trails by 3 (53-56). It seems he cannot do anything as the World Champion of Korea continues with another triple 10 (86). Ellison is behind by 6 with three 9s (80). The two archers copy each other in the last end with both shooting 9-10-9. The difference therefore does not change and Im takes gold with 114 pts. Ellison scores a total of 108 pts and wins silver for his first gold medal match on a World Cup.
  Bronze Medal: BANERJEE Rahul (IND) - PARK Kyung-Mo (KOR) Banerjee finished 2nd at the World Cup Stage 2 in Porec, Croatia, this year. His contender is the 2006 World Cup Final winner, Park of Korea. The latter starts with 8-9-9 (26) and the Indian is 2 pts ahead with 9-X10-10 (28). Park continues with 9-X10-10 and Banerjee with 10-8-9. The score is now tied at 55. The two archers do not let go in the third end. Both release one 10 and two 9s and are still tied (83-83). The tie remains up to the very last arrow after both Park and Banerjee score another two 9s. The Korean shoots first and puts pressure with a wonderful 10! His Indian contender cannot handle it and with a 9, he lets victory go (110-111).
    Recurve Women
    Gold Medal: YUN Ok Hee (OR) - KOVAL Victoria (UKR) The Korean Yun is the holder of the new World Record for the 12-arrow match with 119 pts (out of a possible 120). She set this new record this week in Antalya in the elimination rounds. Her opponent from Ukraine beat two other Koreans (Joo and Kwak) on her way to this gold medal match. Koval starts with 9-X10-8 (27). Yun has a difficult start with 7-10-7 and trails by 3 pts (24). The Korean recovers her best form shooting 9-X10-9 (52). She takes an easy lead after her Ukrainian opponent shoots two 9s and releases the last arrow out of time (8). As a result Koval loses the best arrow of the end and scores 9-8-M (44). The game is almost over... Yun continues with 10-9-8 (79) and Koval with 9-9-8 (70). The Korean finishes with 10-10-9 and a total of 108 pts. She wins the gold medal while her opponent from Ukraine finishes with three 9s (97).

After Ukraine protested the Judge's decision that the arrow was shot past the time limit, the Ukraine team filed a protest. Based on their observation of the situation the Jury agreed with the premise of the appeal, ruling that the judge was in error. They further ruled that Koval should be returned the nine points lost in the situation. Koval therefore finish with a total of 106 pts. In addition to the restoration of her score, a second gold medallion was awarded to Koval after a decision by FITA and the organizing committee.
  Bronze Medal: PARK Sung-Hyun (KOR) - KWAK Ye Ji (KOR) Olympic Champion Park faces her 15-year old teammate Kwak for the bronze medal. Park starts perfectly with 10-X10-10 (30). Kwak opens with 9-8-9 and trails by 4 (26). Park is in Olympic form this afternoon on the beach and she continues with another perfect end (10-X10-10). With 60 pts at the half-way mark she leads her fellow countrywoman by 9 pts (9-8-8/51 for Kwak). Kwak recovers her good shooting with 9-X10-9 (79). Park with 9-8-X10 (87) keeps a comfortable lead. She finishes with another 10-X10-10 and clinches the bronze medal with an amazing 117-point score! Kwak closes her match with 10-10-9 and 108 pts.
    Compound Men
    Gold Medal: PAGNI Sergio (ITA) - SITAR Dejan (SLO) The Italian Pagni took first place at the World Cup Stage 2 in Croatia this year and can do it again here! However, he faces freshly growned European silver medalist Sitar from Slovenia. The latter starts very strongly with two 10s and an X10 for a perfect 30-point end. Pagni shoots 9-X10-10 and trails by 1 with 29 pts. The Italian continues with 10-9-X10 (58). Sitar with 10-X10-9 (59) and the 1-point difference remains at the half-way mark. Pagni shoots 10 and Sitar 9 and the Italian ties the score. The Italian finishes the third end with 10 and 9 (87). His opponent from Slovenia recovers his 1-point lead with X10 and 10 (88). Pagni with an X10 and Sitar with a 9 and the score is tied again! The Italian takes a 1-point advantage with a 10 with his penultimate arrow (9 for Sitar). Pagni clinches the match and another World Cup gold medal with a 10 and 117 pts. Sitar finishes with a 9 and 115 pts.
  Bronze Medal: ELZINGA Peter (NED) - HOFER Patrizio (SUI) The no. 1 seeded archer Elzinga starts his match with a 10. The Swiss champion Hofer trails by 1 with a 9. He recovers at the second arrow with an X10 versus a 9 for his opponent from the Netherlands. Both archers finish the first end with a 10 and the score is tied at 29. Elzinga shoots 9-10-X10 (58). Hofer copies his opponent with 9-10-10 (58) and the scores remain tied. The Dutchman starts the second half of the match with X10 and the Swiss with a 10 (68-68). Elzinga takes the lead with another 10 (78) against Hofer's 9 (77). The difference remains after they both shoot an X10 (88-87). Elzinga and Hofer both with a 10 (98-97) with only two arrows to go... The Swiss puts pressure with X10 and 10 (117). His contender from the Netherlands resists and shoots two X10s to win the bronze medal!
    Compound Women
    Gold Medal: VAN NATTA Jamie (USA) - SALVI Eugenia (ITA) The leader of the World Cup ranking Van Natta faces the reigning World Champion Salvi for the gold medal. The American starts this duel with 9-8-10 (27) and takes a 1-point lead after her opponent from Italy shoots 8-9-9 (26). Salvi shoots X10-10-10 (56) and Van Natta 8-10-10 (55). The lead now goes to the Italian! Van Natta continues with 9-9-10 and Salvi with X10-9-9 and the difference does not change (84-83 in favour of Salvi). The American puts pressure with an X10, but Salvi replies with an X10 as well. Van Natta shoots another X10 and ties the match, as the World Champion from Italy scores 9 (103-103). The tie remains after the two archers shoot a 10 with their last arrow (113-113). In the shoot-off both shoot an opening 10. Another arrow is needed to distinguish the winner... Van Natta scores an 8 and leaves the door open to her opponent. With a 9 Salvi takes her first World Cup victory!
  Bronze Medal: BUDEN Ivana (CRO) - SOEMOD Camilla (DEN) The European silver medalist Soemod of Denmark faces Buden of Croatia. Buden shoots a perfect 10-10-X10 end to start the match. Her opponent opens with an 8-9-9 (26). Soemod trails by 4 after three arrows. She continues with 10-9-9 an totals 54 pts. Buden continues strongly with 10-9-10 and increases its lead to 5 pts (59). Soemod with 9-10-10 and a total of 83 with three arrows to go. Her opponent from Croatia keeps the lead thanks to 9-9-10 (87). Soemod shoots 9-10-9 (110) in the last end. Buden finishes with another perfect series (X10-10-10). Outstanding performance for the Croatian archer with a total of 117 pts out of a possible 120.
   
Ludivine Maitre Wicki
FITA Communication