Shanghai mixed team medals decided in tense tiebreakers

Earlier in the day, Japan had beaten Korea in the recurve men’s team final.

Takaharu FURUKAWA, Olympic silver medallist at London 2012, was part of that gold medal-winning trio. He took to the field again to take on Korea’s mixed team and, at least early on, it looked like he would relegate Japan to silver for a second consecutive time. 

FURUKAWA and Kaori KAWANAKA won the first two sets in short order. The Japanese pair then had two full sets in which to win the match – and they only need a tie… but it didn’t come. 

A six and a seven to start the third set scratched that chance. Korea won the set even though they had put in a five. FURUKAWA could have won it with a last-arrow 10, but he was a couple of millimetres out in the nine.

The selection of the Korean national team included a number of bonus criteria. One of these was ability to perform under pressure.

KIM Woojin and KANG Chae Young performed under pressure. Nineteen to Japan’s 17 in the two-arrow tiebreaker and another gold for Korea, however unlikely it might have looked halfway through the match. 

It was Chae Young’s first time shooting an Archery World Cup, and she said she “wasn’t keen on shooting the tiebreaker.” 

Fortunately, she had an experienced partner in Woojin, who already boasts the individual titles of world champion – in 2011 – and World Cup champ after Tokyo 2012. 

“The mixed team is typical fast team shooting,” he explained. “You have to be very tight and quick.” 

It took a while for the pairing to work on the competition field but, by the end of the match, KIM and KANG were just that. 

China’s only appearance in a final at their home Archery World Cup stage was the recurve mixed team bronze match. It brought the usual Chinese fervour in the crowds and the influx of photographers and TV cameramen to the field of play. 

Both China and Mexico struggled early.

Juan Rene SERRANO, shooting with World Cup Champion Aida ROMAN for Mexico, admitted his shaky start – a pair of sevens – wasn’t all the weather. 

“I was kind of nervous through those first few arrows because we have not had a very good start to the season,” he explained. “I got a bit of confidence after the second end – and was just thinking about the next arrow, next arrow…” 

SERRANO posted a five with his third shot, then nothing but gold for the rest of the match. 

The first Chinese four arrow-set was just as low scoring – 1-1 – but the second was better: 36 to 32 and a 3-1 lead. The third was a point in favour of Mexico (three nines, one 10 played four nines) – and the match was tied. 

A split fourth sent it to a tiebreaker.

China sent down a seven, 10 – Mexico: two nines. 

The crowd was silent, photographers and TV cameraman still. Not a good home result for a Chinese team that performed so well at its last two big tournaments in Incheon and Bangkok. 

For Mexico, the medal was a big positive in an otherwise disappoint week. According to Juan Rene, the squad had higher expectations. 

“We got something out of the shoot but we have more to work on. The week has been a bit up and down with the teams good but nothing going in the individuals,” he said. 

Read more about Shanghai 2015.