Colombia’s compound women take team gold in Medellin to open season

Colombia’s Sara Lopez, Alejandra Usquiano and Alexandra Sandino beat Alexis Ruiz, Jamie Van Natta and Sophia Strachan of the USA by one, 230-229, to take the compound women’s team gold medal at the first stage of the 2019 Hyundai Archery World Cup in Medellin.

“We are very happy. We have worked well as a team and the results are proving it,” said Sandino, the newest of the trio.

Colombia took a two-point lead after the first end, 58-56, and then increased its advantage in the third by three points, 173-170, before the USA women reduced it to just one with three arrows apiece left to shoot.

With the score sitting at 201-200, the lead still Colombia’s, the USA delivered a nine, 10 and a 10. The home team followed with a 9 and a 10.

Lopez, who shot three nines in the match, needed a perfect 10 to secure victory. A nine would have meant shoot-off and anything less would hand the gold medal to the USA.

She delivered the 10.

“It was a bit difficult because the wind changed at points. The nines we shot were very close to the line, so at the beginning, it was a little frustrating because they were good shots,” said Sara.

“My teammates calmed me down, they told that if I take it easy the arrows would land where needed. I shot the last arrow correctly and that’s what happened.”

Italy’s Marcella Tonioli, Sara Ret and Anastasia Anastasio took the compound women’s team bronze medal over first-time finalists Beatriz Aliaga, Valeria Canevaro and Jackeline Palomino of Peru.

Competition at the first stage of the 2019 Hyundai Archery World Cup in Medellin, Colombia runs until Sunday 28 April.