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World number one Schloesser leads the way in compound last eight

03 août 2023

Berlin, Germany

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Mike Schloesser into the elite eight at the world championships in Berlin.

Mike Schloesser overcame a slow start to finish with near perfection and make the compound men’s last eight at the 2023 Hyundai World Archery Championships in Berlin, Germany.

The Dutchman beat Aljaz Matija Brenk 142-138 when he entered proceedings in the last-32 before peaking in the last 16 with a winning total of 149 (from a possible 150) against 98th seed Andrew Fagan.

“At the beginning of my first match I was super nervous because of the conditions,” the world number one said.

“I started off kind of sloppy and anxious but from that second end on I gained confidence and started pounding.”

Rain poured on the compound archers throughout the afternoon but that did not stop the 2021 World Archery Championship silver medallist progressing.

“Tomorrow we have mixed team and teams, I heard it is going to be crazy weather again and I know they are situations I excel in, so I take a lot of confidence,” he added.

Martin Damsbo into the elite eight in Berlin.

Mister Perfect is guaranteed to avoid his conqueror in that gold medal match, Nico Wiener, who was knocked out by Alexander Kullberg in the round of 32, before the Swede booked his place in the last eight with victory over Yakup Yildiz.

The 29-year-old will face Martin Damsbo in the last eight as the Dane beat 2021 bronze medallist Robin Jaatma 145-144.

“They are the moments we train for, those situations are the ones that get the blood pumping, they are the ones we live for,” Schloesser said. “They are unique, you can’t get it by training.”

“It is a really cool feeling and you cannot explain it if you haven’t experienced it.”

Damsbo is enjoying an impressive week as he seeks his first individual medal at this competition since 2007 in Leipzig. He is also fighting for medals on the team front alongside and knocked out teammate Mathias Fullerton in the last-32.

“Just to go to the final field, it is a big step,” he said. “I would have settled for that.”

“We have had a lot of good shooting here in Berlin, it is always an amazing place to come. They really put on a good show, it is big to just be here.”

Przemyslaw Konecki into the elite eight at the worlds.

Poland is the only country to have dual representatives in the final eight as Lukasz Przybylski and Przemyslaw Konecki came out on top.

The pair have world rankings of 49 and 85 but were both seeded in the top 10 after impressive qualifying displays on Tuesday, which they backed up by reaching the gold medal match of the team competition.

“It was a really successful day,” Przybylski said. “I tried to do my best shots and take it shot by shot with no expectations.”

“I have had a good season and now we have a very strong team. I have been building my mental game and we work very well, both me, Konecki and [Rafal] Dobrowolski. It has snowballed and today we got stronger and stronger.”

Konecki will face India’s Ojas Pravin Deotale in the last eight, after he got past Federico Pagnoni and Mohammed Ashikuzzaman, while Przybylski will face top seed Emircan Haney, after he followed up his superb form in qualifying with wins over Nick Kappers and Tim Jevsnik.

“I was not feeling any pressure because it was windy,” said Deotale. “My whole focus on the wind and my process so I wasn’t think about the final.”

“I had expectations that I could reach the final and clinch a medal, but there are a few nerves now. I am just going to think that it is my home, I am practicing at home.”

Competition continues with team finals on Friday in Berlin.