Brady Ellison wins world championships with perfect shoot-off arrow

Brady Ellison beat Khairul Anuar Mohamad with a perfect arrow in a tiebreak to collect his first outdoor world champion title at the 2019 Hyundai World Archery Championships in ’s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands.

“I’m so excited. I’m really trying to hold it in. I’m trying really hard not to cry,” said Brady. “It feels good, it really does. That match was a lot tougher inside the ring than I thought it was going to be, condition-wise. I shot the one good arrow that I needed in the shoot-off and that’s what it came down to.”

The 30-year-old was the favourite in the final, having already won two stages of the Hyundai Archery World Cup this year. His opponent shot like he had nothing to lose.

The first three sets were tied. Brady took the fourth. Khairul won the fifth – and the recurve men’s world championship match went to a shoot-off.

“I knew I had to have it. And I knew if I hit it, I probably wasn’t going to go into a second shoot-off. If I could get that arrow and stick it good, that I was gonna win it,” said Brady.

“I was like, I know exactly where this is going to go. Just make a good shot, let it break low and hit X. As soon as it hit – I was like, that’s good enough.”

It was more than good. In arguably the biggest moment of his career to date, Brady was great.

Khairul shot his arrow. It landed low and left in the eight. The world championship title was Brady’s.

“This is probably the biggest one I’ve won. It’s bigger than my fields, it’s probably bigger than my bronze at the Games at this moment,” said Ellison.

“Now I need that Olympic gold medal. I need a gold. Yes, I want that Olympic gold and I’m going to get it next year.”

Brady Ellison is the first recurve men’s world champion from the USA since 1985 when Rick McKinney won his third and last title.

The other two spots on the recurve men’s podium were also historic.

Khairul’s silver is the first Malaysian medal in the history of the Hyundai World Archery Championships. Ruman Shana’s bronze is Bangladesh’s first championship podium, too.

“We know it’s not really easy to get to the final match. Even though I lost the gold medal, it’s still… it’s a really good experience for me,” said Khairul.

Ruman, who qualified Bangladesh’s first-ever Olympic archery place at this event, credited his performance to his coach, Martin Frederick.

“He’s made me better and better. I think he’s the world number one coach. I’m here because of him,” said Shana. “My feeling, I cannot explain. I’m so happy, happy, happy. This is the best achievement of my archery career.”

The world number 40 beat world number six Mauro Nespoli in what was probably the cleanest victory of the championships.

Ruman opened with a set of 28 points and then shot four 29s to take bronze, 7-1.

The 2019 Hyundai World Archery Championships took place on 10-16 June in ’s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands.