Sara Lopez wins fourth Hyundai Archery World Cup Champion title
Colombia’s Sara Lopez beat Linda Ochoa-Anderson of Mexico, 146-144, in the compound women’s gold medal match at the 2018 Hyundai Archery World Cup Final in Samsun, Turkey to take her fourth title on the circuit.
She previously won the event in 2014, 2015 and 2017, and joins Brady Ellison to lead all athletes in career wins.
“I still can’t believe it. It’s like a dream. I always wanted it to be like this, to be as good as the archers I admire. Like Brady, he has four World Cups too,” said Sara.
“I had great matches. This was the final I was expecting at the beginning.”
Lopez beat host Turkey’s Gizem Elmaagacli by five points, 146-141, in the first round and then dropped only two points in the semis to beat So Chaewon of Korea, 148-146.
In the final against Linda, she trailed after the first end but had flipped the advantage by the time each archer had shot nine arrows. Leading 117-115, Sara put three arrows around the edge of the ring between the 10 and the nine – and a judge was required.
Two were upgraded to score 10 and it won her the match, 146-144.
“[When they were measuring the arrows] I was shaking a lot. I just wanted to shoot them fast so they both hit the 10. I just tried to be calm, and they hit the line. I’m so glad that they did,” she said.
Tears streamed down Lopez’ face, as they always do, as she hugged coach Herber Mantilla.
“I always cry because for me it feels like the first match I shot in Antalya in 2013. I cry because I know my family is watching me, I did it for my grandmother, for my family, for my coach, for me and for all the people that support me,” said Sara.
“I always get excited to see that Colombia, a small country, is doing wonderful things internationally and I’m representing them in the best way.”
With the Samsun title and three more head-to-head wins, Lopez finishes 2018 completely unbeaten in international matchplay.
The compound women’s bronze medal went to Hyundai Archery World Cup Final debutant So Chaewon of Korea, after she beat experienced Italian archer Marcella Tonioli, 146-139.
So upset world number one and home favourite Yesim Bostan in the first round before falling to Lopez in the semis.
The 2018 Hyundai Archery World Cup Final takes place on 29-30 September in Samsun, Turkey.
