The 2018 Hyundai Archery World Cup season has arrived – and we’re in China for stage one of the circuit at its customary kick off spot in the Pudong financial area of Shanghai.
It’s the 10th consecutive year the city has hosted a stop on the tour, and 11th in total as it also had a leg in 2006, and is always a popular event. More so, perhaps, this year – as Asian nations prepare for their continental games in Jakarta this summer.
Here’s everything you need to know about stage one in Shanghai before arrows fly.
Factsheet: Shanghai 2018
- Venues: Yuanshen Sports Stadium (qualification and elimination) and Lujiazui Central Green (finals), Pudong Area, Shanghai, China
- Dates: 22-29 April
- Number of athletes: 359 (205 recurve, 154 compound) from 46 countries
- Where to watch: Live on World Archery’s YouTube and Facebook (except USA), Olympic Channel; live or delayed highlights on NBC Olympic Channel (USA), SBS (Korea), Eurosport and more (check local listings)
Defending stage winners
Individual: Steve Wijler, Netherlands; Ki Bo Bae, Korea (not returning); Stephan Hansen, Denmark (not returning); Sara Lopez, Colombia
Team: recurve men – Kazakhstan, women – Russia, mixed – Chinese Taipei; compound men – India, women – Korea, mixed – Korea
Schedule
- Tuesday 24 April: Compound qualification and first rounds
- Wednesday 25 April: Recurve qualification and first rounds
- Thursday 26 April: Individual and team eliminations
- Friday 27 April: Mixed team eliminations
- Saturday 28 April: Compound finals
- Sunday 29 April: Recurve finals
5 storylines you should know
1. Will she, won’t she? There was rumour that Sara Lopez wouldn’t be in Shanghai, instead staying back to do examinations for her medical degree. Not so. The previous world number one is in China, though – and a win at stage one would reclaim her the top spot in the rankings.
2. Win and you’re in. The most important change to the circuit in 2018: the winner of each stage will qualify for the Hyundai Archery World Cup Final. The two-athlete-per-country limit still applies, however, and three places per category are available through points, so consistency over the year will remain rewarded.
3. Last year’s winners Hansen and Ki absent. Ki Bo Bae didn’t make the Korean team in 2018, the second consecutive Asian games year that she’s missed out, while Stephan Hansen is at an overlapping pro 3D event in the States.
4. Asian Games implications. There’s not quota system for the Asian Games and four athletes per discipline per nation are allowed – which mean one has to sit out of the team event. With squads likely settled, teams are known to be using the Hyundai Archery World Cup circuit to decide who’ll be their top threes.
5. The mother of all breakthroughs. In 2017 in Shanghai, Steve Wijler shot his first international event, which he won – beating the formidable Kim Woojin in the final. Kazakhstan also toppled Korea in the recurve men’s final, securing the nation’s first world-level gold medal. Is it something to do with the Shanghai stage?
Weather forecast
It’s going to be a week of showers, with a chance of thunderstorm on Monday – when teams have unofficial practice sessions. Finals should be dry.
Forecast via AccuWeather.
The first stage of the Hyundai Archery World Cup takes place in Shanghai, China on 23-29 April.
