Becerra pole again – finally a win coming in Antalya?

Andrea Becerra (706) and Mathias Fullerton (715) led compound qualification at the third and last stage of this year’s Hyundai Archery World Cup in Antalya, Türkiye.

Fullerton, the reigning circuit champion, has seeded top at every leg this season.

Becerra was first over the 72 arrows at the opening stage in Shanghai – and finished runner-up both there, in April, and in Yecheon in May. Her first-ever big win is long overdue.

“Aiming was really hard. The conditions were complicated. I finished with a 57, too low, it was hard to find the position but I’m content with the result,” she said. “It gets so hot in the afternoon but Mexico is very similar and we’re accustomed to it.”

“I’ve come so close this year. I’m just waiting for my day.”

Becerra is now a lock for this year’s Hyundai Archery World Cup Final on points. But she’d rather go as a stage winner.

“I’m looking forward to shooting on my home field in front of my family,” she added.

This year’s finale takes place in Mexico, in Tlaxcala, for the third consecutive year.

Rounding out the compound women’s top three – the archer who beat Becerra in the Shanghai final, Jyothi Surekha Vennam (705), and the archer who beat Becerra in the Yecheon final, Sara Lopez (704).

The trio are clear favourites for the title in 2024.

Vennam also has, for the first time this season, Italian coach Sergio Pagni in the coaching box in Antalya. Having orchestrated India’s dominant compound team in 2023, the two-time Archery World Cup Champion didn’t travel with the team for the two Asian stops in 2024.

Today’s top compound men’s qualifier, Fullerton, has been everywhere – and has been sublime during the opening phase of each competition this season.

“Three in a row is… awesome,” he said. “Super happy to know that I’ve done what I could. Now I’ve just gotta go all the way in the finals.”

He’s lost in the quarterfinals at both previous stages this year.

“The wind wasn’t too bad for me. Maybe I had one arrow that missed one point,” Fullerton continued. “Otherwise, it was maybe nice, cooled you down a little.“

It’s been 40-plus degrees on the field in Antalya since archers arrived for the final Olympic qualifier before the weekend.

Competition continues in Antalya with compound team eliminations on Wednesday morning.

Top seeds: Antalya 2024

Full results on the event page.

Compound men

1. Mathias Fullerton, Denmark – 715
2. Mike Schloesser, Netherlands – 711 (35 Xs)
3. Nicolas Girard, France – 711 (31 Xs)

Thirty-one archers shot 700+. Top-64 cut at 671.

Compound women

1. Andrea Becerra, Mexico – 706
2. Jyothi Surekha Vennam, India – 705
3. Sara Lopez, Colombia – 704

Eight archers shot 700+. There was no top-64 cut.