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Brazil makes 1st team medal match in 10 years

15 June 2016

Antalya (TUR)

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Back then, the Brazilian recurve men’s team finished fourth.

The podium in Porec consisted Italy, China and Russia – but none of these countries made the finals in Antalya 2016. Brazil lost bronze to Russia by a 13-point gap, 221-208.

In Antalya, Daniel Rezende, Bernardo Oliveira and Marcelo Costa were the top-qualifying three men from the Rio 2016 Olympic Games host nation. Together, their scores made 1975 points, which qualified the team 13th.

On their way to the finals, the Brazilian squad first beat fourth-seed India, 5-3, and then fifth-seed Australia, 5-1, in the quarters. Through those first two matches, the South American trio shot an average of 54 points per set, but in the semis, against world number one Korea, they opened with a 48, then continued with a 55 and a 56, and failed to make a mark on the scoresheet.

Reflecting after the semifinal, the Brazilian team believed that while beating Korea is not difficult, it’s all about taking advantage of the opportunities when they arise.

“Korea only gives you one chance to beat them and they gave it to us in the first set where they shot six nines,” said Bernardo. “But we struggled with our sights and shot some bad arrows. Then, well, they just did what they do.”

Daniel Xavier, who was part of the team that shot in the finals 10 years ago, said the result was a good sign ahead of a Games at home.

“This is big tournament with a very high level in terms of competition, so to make the finals, our second bronze medal match ever, proves that if we are focused, we can make things work out well. It’s really good,” he said.

Marcelo Costa, the youngest on the team, agreed with Daniel.

“Shooting for bronze at the last international event prior to the Games is just a great motivation for us. It will help us to keep training and trying what’s best for us,” he added.

Brazil’s opponent in the bronze medal match is second seed USA, who lost to Mexico in the semis, 5-3.

Three bonus things to note from some of the rest of the recurve team matches….

1. Keeping the hopes high

For the second time in a row, strong nations Korea and Mexico will contest the recurve men’s team gold medal match – that’s a rematch from London 2012 bronze final.

Korea already guaranteed a full team quota for Rio 2016, but not Mexico. There’s one last chance coming up in Antalya. The elimination matches, said the Mexican squad, was training for the final qualifying tournament.

“It helps us a lot as it proves we are at the same level of the top teams like USA and the Netherlands. We are checking our dynamic as a team, trying what’s best for us and with the experience from Medellin and today, we’ll have more ideas to keep trying,” said Mexican leader Juan Rene Serrano.

“We wanted to do some good shots, to feel good and to be more focused on our technique rather than on the scores, I think we achieved that today,” added Oldair Zamora.

2. German shoot-offs

Both Germany’s recurve men’s and women’s teams went out in the quarterfinals in shoot-offs. The men’s was against USA and the women’s against India – but it’s all part of the experience ahead of the final qualifying tournament for Rio 2016 where Germany wants to qualify both teams.

“Losing in a shoot-off is like losing in any other match, we just don’t shoot well, the Americans did better than us,” said Florian Kahllund. “It’s was good for us today, though. I think our chances for tomorrow are good.”