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The last day of the archery event started with the individual semi-finals today, under heavy clouds and in warm weather. The athletes shot on four targets, facing off against their competitors simultaneously. Each athlete had three minutes to shoot three arrows per target, with a maximum potential scoring of 6.
For recurve men, top American qualifier Brady ELLISON (photo) met Heribert DORNHOFER (AUT), who had claimed the last qualifying spot for the semi-finals. It was an easy victory for ELLISON, 62-51. Olympic team silver medallist in London, the target archery ace is assured to win at least the silver medal, his first international field archery podium. It could be gold, if he manages to defeat the world field champion Jean-Charles VALLADONT (FRA) in the final. The French archer scored 60 points to overtake Alan WILLS (GBR) in the other semi-final. The British archer tied halfway through but lost ground on the last two targets. It will be an interesting final between ELLISON and VALLADONT, who never scored lower than 4 today.
On the women’s side, world field champion Elena RICHTER met Lisa UNRUH (GER), who qualified thanks to a very good performance at marked distances. World champion RICHTER took a three-point lead on the first target, which proved to make the difference after both archers shot very close scores on the next three targets; RICHTER won the match 49-47. In the other semi-final, defending Brit bronze medallist Naomi FOLKARD (main photo) built a five-point lead on Jessica TOMASI (ITA) on the first two targets. TOMASI, runner-up from the last World Games, attempted a comeback but could only recover three points. FOLKARD won the match 52-50 and advances to the final against Elena RICHTER.
In barebow, defending men’s champion Italian Giuseppe SEIMANDI (photo) took the lead over Bobby LARSSON (SWE) from the first target. The Italian archer scored higher than any other barebow athlete (51 points) to advance to the final. In the other semi-final, David GARCIA (ESP) started the match with a 6, and built a three-point advantage over Olivier ROY (FRA) on the first target; the French archer scored a low total of 9 on the second target, and even though he recovered points with better performances on the last two targets (15-13), it was too late. The Spanish archer won the match 49-47.
In the women’s event, defending World Games champion and top qualifier Eleonora STROBBE (ITA) was expected to qualify easily. She took a three-point lead on the first target; however her Austrian opponent Andrea RAIGEL (photo) shot a superb 17 points on the second target to take the lead 27-24. STROBBE lost more points after a disastrous third target (3-2-1), and RAIGEL went on to win the match 46-40. In the other semi-final, world champion Lina BJORKLUND (SWE) scored the highest total of her division (49 points). She was challenged by Chantal PORTE (FRA), who led by two points after two targets; but the French archer faltered with only 9 and 7 points on the last two targets. The Swedish archer won the match by a seven-point margin, and will shoot for the second major title of her career this afternoon against Andrea RAIGEL.
World Archery Communication
For recurve men, top American qualifier Brady ELLISON (photo) met Heribert DORNHOFER (AUT), who had claimed the last qualifying spot for the semi-finals. It was an easy victory for ELLISON, 62-51. Olympic team silver medallist in London, the target archery ace is assured to win at least the silver medal, his first international field archery podium. It could be gold, if he manages to defeat the world field champion Jean-Charles VALLADONT (FRA) in the final. The French archer scored 60 points to overtake Alan WILLS (GBR) in the other semi-final. The British archer tied halfway through but lost ground on the last two targets. It will be an interesting final between ELLISON and VALLADONT, who never scored lower than 4 today.On the women’s side, world field champion Elena RICHTER met Lisa UNRUH (GER), who qualified thanks to a very good performance at marked distances. World champion RICHTER took a three-point lead on the first target, which proved to make the difference after both archers shot very close scores on the next three targets; RICHTER won the match 49-47. In the other semi-final, defending Brit bronze medallist Naomi FOLKARD (main photo) built a five-point lead on Jessica TOMASI (ITA) on the first two targets. TOMASI, runner-up from the last World Games, attempted a comeback but could only recover three points. FOLKARD won the match 52-50 and advances to the final against Elena RICHTER.
In barebow, defending men’s champion Italian Giuseppe SEIMANDI (photo) took the lead over Bobby LARSSON (SWE) from the first target. The Italian archer scored higher than any other barebow athlete (51 points) to advance to the final. In the other semi-final, David GARCIA (ESP) started the match with a 6, and built a three-point advantage over Olivier ROY (FRA) on the first target; the French archer scored a low total of 9 on the second target, and even though he recovered points with better performances on the last two targets (15-13), it was too late. The Spanish archer won the match 49-47.In the women’s event, defending World Games champion and top qualifier Eleonora STROBBE (ITA) was expected to qualify easily. She took a three-point lead on the first target; however her Austrian opponent Andrea RAIGEL (photo) shot a superb 17 points on the second target to take the lead 27-24. STROBBE lost more points after a disastrous third target (3-2-1), and RAIGEL went on to win the match 46-40. In the other semi-final, world champion Lina BJORKLUND (SWE) scored the highest total of her division (49 points). She was challenged by Chantal PORTE (FRA), who led by two points after two targets; but the French archer faltered with only 9 and 7 points on the last two targets. The Swedish archer won the match by a seven-point margin, and will shoot for the second major title of her career this afternoon against Andrea RAIGEL.World Archery Communication
