PEINEAU and LOPEZ to return to Shanghai finals field

It’s a major feat for any archer to make multiple finals on the international archery circuit as the depth in the competition field continues to increase.

To do it at the same stop on the tour, two years in a row is something special.

For Frenchman Sebastien PEINEAU, Shanghai 2015 offers the chance to defend the gold medal he won in China last year. For LOPEZ, it is the opportunity to forget a misfortunate gold medal match in which an equipment issue derailed her chances of the top spot on the podium.

Seb knocked out Reo WILDE in the quarterfinals. Reo had just set a new world record for the 15-arrow match at 150 12X and posted a strong 148 to follow up.

His French opponent and defending Shanghai gold medallist Seb was stronger: 149.

A three-point win over Mexican Mario CARDOSO – who booked a place in the bronze final against another French archer, Dominique GENET – in the semis, and PEINEAU had secured the chance to go for gold in Shanghai for a second year in a row.

“I shot my personal best in qualification,” said Seb. “My previous was 706, and the feeling in the matches has just been really awesome.”

His week started well – 710 on the ranking round for a four-point career best increase – and has the potential to end even better.

The only match PEINEAU said he found tough: a rematch of the Shanghai 2014 final against friend and teammate PJ DELOCHE, who he beat by two points in the fourth round.

“It’s always difficult shooting against a teammate – just as it was last year.”

No teammate standing in Seb’s way to gold in 2015. Instead, it will be The Flying Dutchman Mike SCHLOESSER standing opposite him on the finals line. Mike booked his spot by beating Dane Martin DAMSBO and GENET.

Sara LOPEZ must have flashbacks of last year’s World Cup in China, too.

Her peep sight went awry in a final against Korean CHOI Bomin and she put a couple of arrows off the target face. She settled for silver – but will go for gold in 2015 again, against Mexico’s Linda OCHOA.

Both OCHOA and LOPEZ were at the 2014 Archery World Cup Final. LOPEZ won it.

Malaysia’s Fatin MAT SALLEH and Stephanie SALINAS – who lost to Mexican teammate OCHOA in the semis – will contest Shanghai 2015 bronze.

Read more about Shanghai 2015.