France compound men Kings of Chateau de Vincennes

France’s men, Turkey’s women and India’s mixed pair won the compound team events at the third stage of the 2022 Hyundai Archery World Cup.

The trio of Quentin Baraer, Jean Philippe Boulch and Nicolas Girard went into competition seeded third and defeated Turkey 233-229 in the final at the Chateau de Vincennes in Paris.

“It’s super, super awesome,” said Baraer. “Just to be here in Paris with our friends and our families it’s pretty good.”

The first two ends saw the two teams swap a 59 and 58 with each other before a home nation 58 saw the French team squeeze ahead by one going into the fourth (175-174).

Just a single point separated the medals going into the final three arrows each with Boulch and co ahead (203-202). But Turkey hit an 8 and 9, allowing some room for host team to capitalise.

They hit three 10s to secure an emotional gold.

“It was our strategy to let the opponents start and make sure the wind would not affect our arrows. We had the chance to choose and we decided to let the opener check the wind,” said Boulch before stating simply about the win, “it’s awesome.”

France, with Adrien Gontier instead of Girard had taken silver in the event in the previous two stages.

The USA team of Braden Gellenthien, James Lutz and Kris Schaff drew with Denmark 233-233 in matchplay before hitting the sweeter 29 in the tiebreak.

Turkey’s Yesim Bostan, Songul Lok and Ayse Bera Suzer beat recent European champions Great Britain to gold in the first medal match of the day.

Their single-point win (229-228) came in a tight encounter with the fourth end the lowest of them all, a 56 from Turkey enough to claim gold, following a silver in Antalya at stage one.

“I am so happy with myself and my team because we have a good vision,” said Lok.

“At the beginning of the season we were planning on getting good high scores and good podiums during the year. We also wanted to get a world cup title at a world cup stage as a team and we finally got it.”

“I am very proud and happy.”

“This has been the best year ever but it’s not over yet,” added Bostan.

“Our first priority was the European Championship gold medal but we couldn’t make it, we just made the third place, but one week later we are here and we beat the European champions in the gold medal match. This is good enough for us.”

The circuit-returning Jyothi Surekha Vennam, along with Abhishek Verma, won mixed team gold for India. They scored a perfect first end (40) to open up a three-point lead, a lead they won by (152-149).

“It’s been a long time since I got to the international team and I tried to perform my best and give my best,” she said. “I am happy we finally got a gold medal today.”

Verma, with his second mixed team medal of the circuit this season, was quick to praise his teammate.

“Jyothi is a very strong partner,” he said. “I feel very confident  and I trust her completely because we have played together for a very long time.”

France’s women and the USA men won bronze in the compound team events on Wednesday.

Competition in Paris continues this afternoon with the compound individual medal matches.

Podiums: Paris 2022

Check full results on the World Archery website.

Compound men’s team

1.  France (Quentin Baraer, Jean Philippe Boulch, Nicolas Girard)
2.  Turkey (Batuhan Akcaoglu, Emircan Haney, Yakup Yildiz)
3.  United States of America (Braden Gellenthien, James Lutz, Kris Schaff)

Compound women’s team

1.  Turkey (Yesim Bostan, Songul Lok, Ayse Bera Suzer)
2.  Great Britain (Layla Annison, Elizabeth Foster, Ella Gibson)
3.  France (Sophie Dodemont, Lola Grandjean, Sandra Herve)

Compound mixed team

1.  India (Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Abhishek Verma)
2.  France (Sophie Dodemont, Jean Philippe Boulch)
3.  Great Britain (Ella Gibson, Adam Carpenter)