Turkish pairs make mixed team medal matches in Shanghai

Turkish recurve archers Mete Gazoz and Yasemin Anagoz and compound duo Demir Elmaagacli and Yesim Bostan will contest gold and bronze, respectively, in the mixed team finals at the 2018 Hyundai Archery World Cup stage in Shanghai, China.

“To win it’s always great but to win with great shooting is even better,” said Yasemin, after she and Mete shot a perfect, 40-point last set to secure their semifinal win.

“We lost to USA in Berlin in 2017, so beating them here in Shanghai, to make the gold medal match, is a revenge for us. They are a great and strong team.”

The Turkish young mixed pair beat the USA’s Khatuna Lorig and Brady Ellison in four sets, six points to two, dropping just two points with their last eight arrows. They will shoot the final against first seeds Chang Hye Jin and Kim Woojin from Korea.

“Korea is always a strong team but we are confident, specially after our matches today. We know that when we put effort into it, results show up,” added Mete.

The USA will contest the bronze medal match with Indonesia’s Riau Ega Agatha and Diananda Choirunisa.

Hyundai Archery World Cup Champion Demir Elmaagacli was paired with Yesim Bostan in Turkey’s compound mixed team. They seeded fifth in qualification, and then beat Mexico and Chinese Taipei before losing to Korea’s duo Choi Bomin and Kim Jongho in a tiebreaker in the semis.

Elmaagacli and Bostan will contest bronze against Indian archers Abhishek Verma and Jyothi Surekha Vennam .

“Our last arrows in the shoot-off weren’t as good as the ones we shot during our elimination matches but we still lost with the same score to Korea,” said Yesim. “There’s a bronze to contest so we can’t feel bad about it. We expect to win.”

Korea will shoot for gold against Martin Damsbo and Tanja Jensen from Denmark.

The first stage of the Hyundai Archery World Cup takes place in Shanghai, China on 23-29 April.