Antalya: Tough team event getting tougher

There is only space for 12 teams, including hosts Brazil, at the next Olympic Games.

In exactly 60 days, when the world’s best archers let arrows fly at the Copenhagen 2015 World Archery Championships, upwards of 70 trios of recurve men will be battling for those dozen spots.

Ahead of Copenhagen, the Archery World Cup in Antalya is the last international competition that offers the opportunity for teams to settle their rosters, choose their rotations and check where they lie against teams from Asia, the Americas, Africa, Europe and Oceania.

In Antalya, 33 teams registered in total.

Reigning Olympic Champions Italy was one of them. Michele FRANGILLI and Mauro NESPOLI, who were part of that gold medal winning squad in London, admitted quickly that they wanted to win gold again.

“Antalya is part of our preparation for the European Games and the World Championships. Our team for both events will be chosen here,” FRANGILLI said. 

NESPOLI explained further: “Our coach will decide the team based on results. The first member will be the top qualified here and the two others, based on the last competitions we have been to.” 

The Italian team has been working hard on both their mental and physical preparation. 

“We try to keep shooting strong and our minds focused. We really want to win a medal in Rio,” concluded Michele, speaking about the moment he shot the final 10 to secure London 2012 gold: “We really want that feeling back!” 

They will have a tough fight with USA and Korea, the two other teams that made the podium at those Games, also looking strong. 

On the USA squad, new team member and former baseball player Zach GARRETT is feeling the pressure of joining a team with high expectations. 

“All I can think about right now is how excited I am,” said Zach, who is now shooting the anchor position – the last man on the line – that Brady ELLISON had previously fulfilled for the squad. 

“It’s so cool to take that over.” 

To make the new rotation work, the USA men have been specifically training on the team event, learning how to work, shoot and stay together as a group. 

With the new rotation, the USA team have been doing unique training sessions were they learn how to work, shoot and stay as a team. 

“As this is all new, we are really trying our best to bond.” 

On the subject of teams with newcomers: Japan. 

Takaharu FURUKAWA, the commanding individual Olympic silver medallist, who won bronze a year ago in Antalya with his team then, has two new and young athletes on his roster. 

“Antalya is not an ordinary championship for us,” he explained. “But a chance to check how other teams are doing ahead of Copenhagen. We are taking it extremely seriously.” 

Admitting he feels like the leader of the group, FURUKAWA said his primary role – apart from shooting arrows in the middle – was helping his young teammates to stay confident and shoot well themselves. 

“We want gold,” he said. Who doesn’t? 

Back in 2011, the Netherlands couldn’t do well enough to make it to London 2012 – then went and won the European title the same year. 

Rick VAN DER VEN did well individually, though. He hit the finals, losing out in the bronze match to China’s DAI Xiaoxiang. 

This year, with Sjef VAN DER BERG, Jan VAN TONGEREN and Mitch DIELEMANS, Rick and the Dutch have another shot at the team – but that journey starts now. 

“Copenhagen will be as tough as Turin was four years ago,” explained Rick. “We really hope we make it. The team is doing well and Antalya is just a chance to get as good as we can ahead of the big event.” 

He explained the Dutch were not happy with Shanghai, and left a clear message for his aspirations. 

“If we don’t make it, we will try again.” 

Rick’s in this for the long haul. But he, the USA, Japan, Italy and every other recurve men’s team in the field will do everything they can to ensure their Road to Rio is a successful one.

It starts this week in Antalya – but the toughest team event in archery seems to be getting even tougher.

Read more about Antalya 2015.