The USA’s Braden Gellenthien upset reigning World Archery Champion and world number one Stephan Hansen by three points, 148-145, to secure his second Hyundai Archery World Cup Champion title in Rome, Italy. He has now podiumed at all six editions of the event in which he has competed.
“I’m excited. I really wanted to come back strong since I’ve been out of the World Cup [Final] for a while now,” said Braden. “I knew it was going to be a though match because he’s world ranked number one for a reason.”
“It’s great, next year I want to make it three gold and three silvers [laughs], I want to keep going,” he said, emotional – and forgetting that he’d already had four runner-up finishes.
Braden finished second in Dubai in 2007, Copenhagen in 2009, Edinburgh in 2010 and Paris in 2013. He was previously Hyundai Archery World Cup Champion after the 2012 Final in Tokyo, Japan.
In the Rome final clash against Hansen, Braden landed only two of his 15 arrows out of the 10-ring and shot fast, often leaving more than 10 (out of 20) seconds on his clock.
The pair opened with perfect 30s in the first end and then Gellenthien blinked first, dropping a nine in the second. Hansen was clean until his ninth arrow, which went low in the eight – and the advantage flipped, 89-88, in Braden’s favour.
Another perfect 30 from the US man, while Hansen posted a couple more nines, left Gellenthien needing an eight from his final arrow to win.
He shot a nine, beat the world number one and favourite in Rome, and landed his sixth career podium and second win at the Hyundai Archery World Cup Final.
“Throughout match I felt really confident, really relaxed. I’ve been training as hard as I have ever trained in my life in the last few months and it’s starting to pay off. My shot is feeling like if I was 20… I’m really excited for the World Championships in Mexico,” said Braden.
On his way to the final in Rome, Braden beat former world number one PJ Deloche, 146-144, and then USA teammate Steve Anderson, 147-146.
Anderson, shooting at his first ever Hyundai Archery World Cup Final, took bronze over the champion of the tour in 2015, Turkey’s Demir Elmaagacli, 143-142.
“It’s funny, I always chose myself to win but if it wasn’t me, I would have picked Braden,” said Anderson.
The 2017 Hyundai Archery World Cup Final takes place on 2/3 September in Rome, Italy.
