World number one Yesim Bostan secured her place at the 2018 Hyundai Archery World Cup Final in Samsun by taking gold at Turkey’s long-time stage of the international circuit in Antalya earlier in the summer.
She’s one of two host nation athletes to qualify outright, along with Mete Gazoz, bringing Turkey’s total representation at the tournament to six, with the four home representative spaces automatically allocated.
“Compared to my other two World Cup Finals, I have improved my shooting, gained confidence and increased my scores,” said Bostan.
And she’s arguably the favourite at the event, arriving ranked as the number one compound woman in the world.
Bostan’s first appearance at the Hyundai Archery World Cup Final came in Odense in 2016, where she finished fourth after falling to Crystal Gauvin. She took bronze in Rome in 2017 ahead of Denmark’s Sarah Sonnichsen.
For this event in Samsun, a new draw format was introduced, with the brackets decided by random selection on the Thursday evening prior to the tournament.
Bostan was drawn against world number five So Chaewon of Korea in the quarterfinals.
“I always try not to think about my opponent but about myself. I try to focus on my performance, go one step forward than my opponent and prepare as well as I can to finish at the top,” she said.
“I aim to win it since I’m at home and I would like to celebrate here.”
If Bostan wins her first match, she’ll face either three-time Hyundai Archery World Cup Champion Sara Lopez or teammate Gizem Elmaagacli in the semifinals.
Twenty-year-old Gizem, the young sister of the compound men’s circuit winner in 2015, Demir, makes her debut in this arena after recently taking her first senior medal as part of the Turkish compound women’s team at the European Championships in Legnica, Poland.
Samsun marks a valuable opportunity in a young archery career.
“I got really happy and excited when I knew I was going to shoot in the Final. I will try to have fun and enjoy this competition since it’s important and I’m at home,” said Gizem, who admitted the prospect of facing Lopez first-off was stimulating.
“It makes me feel good because it always challenges me to have someone as good as her next to me on the line. I actually feel that I shoot better when I’m doing it against a top archer than someone my level.”
Like Gizem, Turkey’s Gazoz, Yasemin Anagoz and Fatih Bozlar are also Hyundai Archery World Cup Final debutants.
In the first round, Mete faces Taylor Worth; Fatih meets Brady Ellison, and Yasemin was drawn against Chang Hye Jin. Demir will shoot against Stephan Hansen.
The 2018 Hyundai Archery World Cup Final takes place on 29-30 September in Samsun, Turkey.
