Natalia VALEEVA (ITA), “La Reina de Santo Domingo”

    Recurve Men   Gold Medal – Crispin DUENAS (CAN) vs Romain GIROUILLE (FRA) The 20-year old Frenchman GIROUILLE won last year's World Cup Stage 2 in Croatia and was bronze medallist at the 2008 Grand Final in Lausanne. He is ranked 5th in the world and was seeded no. 3 in Santo Domingo.   Aged 23, DUENAS from Canada finished 39th at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. He is 48th in the current world ranking and was the no. 5 seed in this tournament.   In this match for gold, GIROUILLE proved more consistent shooting all his twelve arrows in the yellow ring, scoring only 10s and 9s. He led by two points after the first (28-26) and the second (57-55) ends. His advantage even increased to six points after his opponent DUENAS scored a 6 at his eighth arrow (85-79). The final end would not change the story of this match and GIROUILLE clinched the gold 112-107.   Bronze Medal – Marco GALIAZZO (ITA) vs Simon TERRY (GBR) GALIAZZO was the Olympic champion in Athens 2004 and he is now 22nd in the world ranking. Being sick on the qualifications day, he only shot six arrows and was ranked 48th to enter the elimination rounds. To enter the semi-finals, the Italian defeated the no. 17, 16, 1 and 8 seeds, before losing to the no. 5 DUENAS (CAN).   TERRY was individual and team silver medallist in the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. Entering the bronze medal match in Santo Domingo, the Briton ranked 16th in the world and he was seeded no. 7 in this World Cup stage. In the semi-final round, he was defeated by no. 3 GIROUILLE (FRA).   The two experienced archers were tied after three arrows (27-27). Taking advantage of an 8 by his opponent in the second end, TERRY scored two 10s and a 9 to lead by three points at the half-way mark (56-53). Decision was made and the Briton then kept increasing his lead, 85-81 after nine arrows and finally 113-108 to clinch the bronze medal.   Recurve Women   Gold Medal – Alison WILLIAMSON (GBR) vs Natalia VALEEVA (ITA) VALEEVA is the no. 3 in the world ranking and seeded no. 2 in this stage. She took part in five Olympic Games and won several indoor and outdoor world championships titles. She was the winner of last year's World Cup edition in Santo Domingo.   No. 27 in the world, WILLIAMSON was the no. 8 seed entering the elimination rounds and qualified for the gold medal match beating the no. 1 seed MOSPINEK (POL) in quarterfinal and then the no. 4 BANERJEE in the semis.   The two ladies were tied at 26 points each after three arrows. VALEEVA took a 1-point lead at the half-way mark (52-51), and thanks to a perfect 10-10-10 third end, she increased her advantage to six points (82-76) with only three arrows to go. Despite scoring a 6 at her last shot, the Italian had a margin that was comfortable enough to get over WILLIAMSON. By 106-101, VALEEVA became the "Queen of Santo Domingo" clinching a second victory in a row in the Dominican Republic after last year's win!   Bronze Medal – Dola BANERJEE (IND) vs Reena KUMARI (IND) BANERJEE won the World Cup Final 2007 in Dubai. She is 35th in the world and seeded no. 4 in this first World Cup stage 2009. Her opponent was her teammate KUMARI, who only ranks 145th in the world but was no. 11 at the end of the qualifications.   In the semi-final round, BANERJEE lost to the five times Olympian WILLIAMSON (GBR), while KUMARI was defeated by VALEEVA (ITA), also five times Olympian and winner of several indoor and outdoor world titles.   Shooting a 6 in the first end, BANERJEE trailed by four points after three arrows (22-26) and by three at the half-way mark (48-51). However, with one 10 and two 9s in the third end, she struck back down to the score and only trailed by one with three arrows to go (76-77). The score was tied at the end of the match and the two ladies had to go to a tie-break to decide on the winner. KUMARI shot a 7 in the shoot-off, offering the bronze to her fellow countrywoman, who clinched victory with a 9.   Compound Men   Gold Medal – Braden GELLENTHIEN (USA) vs Patrizio HOFER (SUI) The American and the Swiss are experienced archers and are always very close to each other. GELLENTHIEN is 5th in the world while HOFER is 7th. The former was seeded no. 8 in Santo Domingo whereas the latter was no. 7.   They had already faced each other twice with two victories for the American two years ago at the world championships in Germany and at the World Cup in Turkey.   Despite taking the best start and a 2-point lead at the half-way mark (57-55), HOFER saw his opponent fall on him in the third end after the Swiss shot an 8 at his ninth arrow. The score was tied at 84 points each with only three arrows to go. In the last end, GELLENTHIEN shot two 10s and a 9 to clinch a third victory in his head-to-head confrontation with HOFER (113-112).   Bronze Medal – Peter ELZINGA (NED) vs Rigoberto HERNANDEZ (ESA) It was the first confrontation between ELZINGA and HERNANDEZ.   The Dutch is ranked 14th in the world and was seeded no. 6 after the qualifications. He finished 22nd of last year's World Cup stage in Santo Domingo.   His opponent from El Salvador is 31st in the world ranking and was the no. 13 seed in this first stage.   HERNANDEZ took the best start with a perfect first end and led by two points (30-28). However, it was then ELZINGA's turn to shoot two consecutive 30-point ends to first recover after six arrows (58-58) and reverse the situation with only three arrows to go (88-86).   The two competitors clinched the match with the same end (10-9-10) and the Dutch, therefore, kept his 2-point lead to win the bronze medal.   Compound Women   Gold Medal – Brittany LORENTI (USA) vs Jamie VAN NATTA (USA) VAN NATTA is the reigning World Cup winner after her victory in the Grand Final in Lausanne last September. She is the no. 1 in the world and the no. 1 seed here in Santo Domingo. She entered the gold medal match as the favourite. In semi-final, she easily defeated her teammate WATSON 115-105.   LORENTI is 45th of the world ranking and was seeded no. 7 in Santo Domingo. This first stage of the year was her first World Cup participation. In the previous round, she beat the Venezuelan BOSCH 111-108.   The 22-year old LORENTI had a perfect start in the match, leading 30-28 after three arrows and putting pressure on her experimented opponent. She managed to keep her 2-point lead after the second (57-55) and third end (83-81). While VAN NATTA scored 8-7-10 in the last end, LORENTI shot two 10s and a 9 to clinch her first gold World Cup medal.   Bronze Medal – Diane WATSON (USA) vs Olga BOSCH (VEN) The Venezuelan BOSCH was seeded no. 3 after the qualifications and is no. 66 in the world. She suffered defeat in semi-final against the no. 1 seed and 2008 World Cup winner VAN NATTA (USA).   It was only the second international tournament for the American WATSON. Her first World Cup appearance was last year here in Santo Domingo and she ranked 20th. No. 66 in the world ranking and seeded no. 4 her, she only was defeated by her teammate LORENTI in the semi-final round.   The two competitors never met before, so this match was expected to be quite open.   Indeed, the score was tied at the half-way mark at 57-57. Then WATSON took a 1-point lead with only three arrows to go (86-85). She finished with a perfect 30-point last end and clinched the bronze medal over BOSCH.   Ludivine MAITRE WICKI FITA Communication