Gold for India, Italy and USA at the World Cup Stage 1

  Recurve Men   Gold Medal – India (IND) vs Great Britain (GBR) The top seeded team of India, with BANERJEE, CHAMPIA and TALUKDAR, faced the experienced team of Great Britain (no. 2), composed of the 1992 Olympic silver medallist TERRY, two times Olympian GODFREY and World Games silver medallist WILLS.   To reach the gold final, India defeated Turkey (222-203) and USA (219-215). Great Britain first beat Poland (225-203) and then Mexico (219-217).   With a 6 in the first end, the British were trailing by two after six arrows (53-55). However, they turned a 7 by their opponents to their advantage and tied the score at the half-way mark (108-108).   It was difficult to say of which team would be the winners of this match... With three 10s in the third end, the Indians took back the lead by one point (164-163) with only six arrows to go.   Two 8s by TERRY and GODFREY and a 7 by WILLS in the last end put an end to the British's hopes to recover and win the gold. But although their Korean coach did not come with them to Santo Domingo, they had a good the World Cup season's start with a team silver medal, while the Indians clinched the gold (221-215).   Bronze Medal – United States (USA) vs Mexico (MEX) The recurve men's bronze medal match featured the no. 3 and no. 5 teams, Mexico and USA.   The Mexicans LASTRA, SERRANO and VELEZ SANCHEZ beat Cuba after a shoot-off in quarterfinal (211-211/27-25) before losing to Great Britain in semi-final (217-219).   For their part, the Americans ELLISON, JOHNSON and WUKIE had a win over Italy (219-214) and a loss to India (215-219).   The two teams were tied at the half-way mark (110-110), but with four 10s in the third end, the Americans managed to take a 2-point lead with only six arrows to go.   Eventually, the Mexicans could not recover in the last end, shooting an 8 while their opponents proved more consistent with five 9s. The bronze medal therefore went to the Americans on the final score of 222-220.   Recurve Women   Gold Medal – Poland (POL) vs Italy (ITA) To win the right to shoot for gold on the Plaza de Espana in Santo Domingo, the Polish team, led by the 2008 World Cup winner MOSPINEK, beat Mexico (205-203) and Great Britain (211-197).   For their part, the Italians defeated the Americans in quarterfinal (218-192) and then the Colombians in semi-final (210-207).   With only one 10 in the first half of the match, the five times Olympian VALEEVA and her young, talented teammates TOMASI and TONETTA trailed by two points at the half-way mark (103-105).   The Italians decided to change their shooting order to begin the second part of the match, with TONETTA shooting first, followed by TOMASI and VALEEVA. This tactical choice seemed to pays as they returned the situation to their advantage, taking the lead 156-154 with only six arrows to go.   With a strong wind starting to blow over the venue, Poland opened the last end with a 6, which put an end to any hopes to recover. LIPIARSKA, MOSPINEK and MYSZOR eventually conceded defeat 202-206, leaving the gold to Italy.   Bronze Medal – Great Britain (GBR) vs Colombia (COL) The British team, made up of BURGESS, OLIVER and WILLIAMSON, beat the no. 1 seed India (208-207) in quarterfinal before losing against no. 4 Poland (197-211) in the semis.   RENDON, ROMERO and SANCHEZ, who were seeded no. 3 after qualification, easily defeated Turkey (201-180), but then found stronger than them and lost their semi-final against Italy (207-210).   With a 6 at their second arrow, Great Britain trailed by one point (52-53) after the first end. But thanks to a very strong finish in the second end--with three 10s--and a low 48-point series by their opponents, WILLIAMSON and her teammates could recover and take a comfortable 5-point advantage at the half-way mark (106-101).   The British ladies' experience was big enough for them to manage such an advantage and they even increased their lead to clinch the match at 210-202.   Compound Men   Gold Medal – United States (USA) vs Canada (CAN) The compound men's gold medal match featured the two best seeded teams, USA and Canada.   On their way to the gold final, the no. 1 GELLENTHIEN, L. WILDE and R. WILDE comfortably defeated Puerto Rico (224-217) and then Mexico (228-219).   For their part, the Canadian team—with PARENTEAU, TATARYN and reigning world champion TRILLUS—first beat Colombia (231-217) and then El Salvador (228-225).   The two teams were very close to each other. Despite a 7 at their sixth arrow, the Canadians managed to remain tied with their neighbours from the United States. The score was 116-116 at the half-way mark.   Very solid shooting by the two teams in this match! Except for one in the first end, all arrows hit the yellow ring (10 or 9 points).   Decision was made when Canada scored an 8 in the first part of the last end. This offered GELLENTHIEN and the WILDE brothers an opening into which they ran and clinched gold 234-231.   Bronze Medal – Mexico (MEX) vs El Salvador (ESA) To reach the bronze match, El Salvador (no. 3) easily defeated Ukraine (226-214) in quarterfinal but was then stopped by the no. 2 team Canada in semi-final (225-228).   The Mexicans, who were seeded no. 5, beat India (218-214) in the quarterfinal round before losing to the no. 1 team USA (219-228) in the semis.   Taking advantage of an 8 by their opponents in the first end, JAIME, OCHOA and RAMIREZ gave Mexico a 2-point lead after six arrows.   However, the 2007 World Cup winner JIMENEZ and his teammates Rigoberto and Roberto HERNANDEZ scored a spectacular 59-point second end and reversed the situation in their favour, 116-114 at the half-way mark.   With a spectacular, perfect 60-point third end, the Mexicans managed to take the lead from their opponents (174-173). But with an 8 at their twenty-first arrow, they eventually conceded defeat by one point only, 231-230 in favour of El Salvador.   Compound Women   Gold Medal – United States (USA) vs Venezuela (VEN) To qualify for the gold medal match, the no. 1 seeded team, USA, had a bye in the first eliminations round. LORENTI, VAN NATTA and WATSON then defeated India (225-220) in semi-final.   For their part, GONZALEZ, A. OCHOA and L. OCHOA from Mexico (no. 3) beat Puerto Rico (220-210) and Venezuela (218-212) in quarter and semi-final, respectively.   After six arrows, the favourite Americans suffered from a 6 by WATSON and trailed by three points at 53-57. However, they could recover and even take the lead by one point with only one end to go (169-168), profiting from three 8s by Mexico.   With a spectacular 10-10-10 final arrows series, the 2008 World Cup winner VAN NATTA and her teammates proved they really were the no. 1 in compound women, clinching the gold medal 227-225.   Bronze Medal – India (IND) vs Venezuela (VEN) To reach the bronze medal match, the team of Venezuela--seeded no. 2 after qualification--beat the Dominican Republic (214-185) in quarterfinal but lost to Mexico (212-218) in semi.   The no. 4 seed, India, first defeated Colombia (207-200) and then conceded defeat versus USA (220-225).   Shooting first in this match for bronze, BOSCH, GUEDEZ and MONTES from Venezuela started with 25 points. With a perfect opening (10-10-10), the Indians, CHANU, HANSDAH and SOY, took a 5-point lead.   At the half-way mark, the gap between the two teams was of eight points (113-105) in favour of India. Excellent shooting for CHANU and her teammates with only 10s, 9s and 8s!   Finally, the female team of India quite easily clinched the compound women's bronze medal on the final score of 219-208.   Ludivine MAITRE WICKI FITA Communication