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Korea misses out on mixed team finals in Gwangju

20 mai 2022

Gwangju, Korea

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Germany recurve mixed team celebrate making the finals at Gwangju 2022

The recurve mixed teams of the USA and Germany and compound pairs from Estonia and Chinese Taipei will shoot for gold medals at the second stage of the Hyundai Archery World Cup in Gwangju, Korea.

Despite seeding top, both Korean squads were eliminated in the quarterfinals.

In the recurve competition, it was instead the mixed teams from USA and Germany that delivered the strongest performances so far, neither dropping a set.

Germany’s Katharina Bauer and Felix Wieser dispatched Canada in straight sets in the semifinals, that victory coming after two 5-1 victories against Great Britain and India in their early elimination matches.

“It was hard work but easy shooting,” said Wieser after securing a spot in the final.

Standing next to him was Bauer, with the pair visibly emanating pure joy while highlighting the brilliant team spirit they have together.

“It was easy,” said Wieser again. “No,” replied Bauer with a smile, before Wieser expanded. “Shooting team makes it a lot more fun,” he said. “You aren’t alone, you share all the great things with your teammate.”

“It’s always good to share everything, all the information,” added Bauer. “We know each other really well, we train together at home.”

It’s another huge result for the world number 17, who seeded second in Gwangju. The German recurve women are already shooting for team gold – and Bauer took individual bronze at the season opener in Antalya last month.

The USA recurve mixed team pair of Brady Ellison and Casey Kaufhold at Gwangju 2022

The USA’s Casey Kaufhold and Brady Ellison await the Germans in the final, with the ever-sociable Ellison cutting his interview short to congratulate Bauer and Wieser on making the gold medal match. It’s a close match-up, with Kaufhold and Ellison also shooting consistently and finishing the day with a straight-set semifinal win over the Netherlands.

Gaby Schloesser and Rick van der Ven had eliminated Korea’s Choi Misun and Kim Je Deok in the quarterfinals but were on the back foot early against the States after shooting a two in the first set.

The USA has secured a second consecutive mixed team medal on the tour, although Kaufhold has taken the place of Gabi Sasai, who won mixed team bronze with Ellison in Antalya.

“I don’t think we even lost a set,” said Kaufhold. “The lowest we did was to tie a set so it is really good. Points just kept going and going. I shot very good shots and it is a really good day.”

“The wind was a little tricky and we had to aim a lot more than we expected, but overall it was really good. We were both very confident and had a good time.”

That wind, though, was far easier to deal with than earlier in the competition week.

In the compound mixed team eliminations, Estonia continued its impressive Hyundai Archery World Cup form with sister and brother combo Lisell and Robin Jaatma defeating India, 148-146, in the semifinals to book a shot at a title here.

Lisell now has a chance to leave Gwangju with three gold medals, following her progression through to the final four in the individual competition – and being part of an Estonian compound women’s team also shooting for the stage win.

“It’s been a very good week in Korea,” she said. “We shot really well and we are both very happy.”

Chinese Taipei lies between Estonia and that mixed team gold, with Huang I-Jou and Chen Chieh-Lun having already denied Korea’s hopes for a home podium in this event after they eliminated top seeds Kim Yunhee and Kim Jongho in the quarterfinals before then defeating Turkey, 154-153, in the semifinals.

Competition continues on Friday with recurve elimination rounds in the afternoon.