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Lopez chasing three medals at home stage after reaching mixed team final

16 juin 2023

Medellin, Colombia

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Sara Lopez was delighted to make home advantage count after reaching her second gold medal match of the third stage of the Hyundai Archery World Cup in Medellin.

The Colombian, who could also claim gold in the compound women’s individual and team events, partnered with Sebastian Arenas to beat Estonia’s siblings Robin and Lisell Jaatma and set up a final showdown against Mexico on Saturday.

“I am very happy,” Lopez said. “Obviously, there is pressure because of the responsibility of representing Colombia at home, but I feel I did my job very well.”

“Three finals out of three was something I did not predict, so I am very happy with this because I worked very hard.”

Colombia is now favourite to win the compound mixed team final after Puerto Rico shocked first seeds India in the quarterfinal.

Compound mixed team semifinal featuring Puerto Rico and Mexico.

A defeat in the semifinals to Mexico shattered hopes of a remarkable final appearance but Paola Maria Ramirez Gonzalez and Jean Pizarro will still have the chance to win their country’s first mixed team medal.

The nation has been working for a long time to have a good mixed team and they are seeing more and more results.

“I am very happy,” said Pizarro. “For the first time we feel more comfortable in the mixed team.”

“Each one individually is working on their technical difficulties, but the teamwork certainly makes us very happy and looking forward to that final for the bronze.”

Their conquerors Mexico go in as the underdog against Colombia but Dafne Quintero and Sebastian Garcia boast six years shooting experience as a team and are relishing the occasion.

“It’s going to be very entertaining,” said Garcia. “We know we are going against the hosts, so we expect a very tight final, very strong and I know that both teams are going to give it their all.”

Korea and USA reaching recurve mixed team gold final in Medellin.

The recurve competition saw the top four seeds all reach the semifinal, with the winners of the previous two stages, Korea and USA, set to meet in the gold medal match.

Lim Sihyeon and Kim Woojin, who beat India in the final four, shot five perfect sets of 40 across their first seven attempts en route to the final but Brady Ellison is full of confidence after he and Jennifer Mucino-Fernandez upset second seeds Chinese Taipei to advance.

“Today was actually pretty awesome,” said Ellison. “I’m feeling better and better every day, still not 100% yet, but I had a great teammate today.”

The former world number one explained after qualifying he had been ill, unable to eat for three days before the start of the competition.

“She shot absolutely amazing and we didn't have any wind to fight in anything, so it made it a little bit easier for me to shoot my bow well, and we just got through the matches and it’s good.”

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