Top shot: The best archer at the third World Cup stage of 2019?
With Antalya serving as a final warm-up for many – but not all – elite teams from around the world, there were some nervous encounters in matchplay at the third stage of the 2019 Hyundai Archery World Cup.
In the heat of the beach at Antalya, Turkey, whoever keeps their cool usually manages to take down the best results.
Honourable mentions: Zheng Yichai, Mete Gazoz, Brady Ellison
Zheng, despite a lowly qualification, fought her way through a tough field and all the way to a gold medal; recovering brilliantly from a bad arrow in the final.
Gazoz, still only 19, qualified first and took two recurve medals for the host nation. They were both bronze, but the young Turkish archer stepped up strongly for his performances in the arena. You felt his time is still to come.
Ellison was remarkable – but we've almost come to expect that. In Antalya, he added another layer of composure and resilience to a near-perfect score in the final. Brady just has to be favourite for the world title in the Netherlands.
If he puts in another performance like Antalya, no-one else will be able to touch him.
3. Elena Osipova, Russia
She was the engine that drove two Russian teams to a medal. Elena Osipova wasn't perfect in the arena, but she had presence and confidence in abundance.
She deserves a spot here because of her final tiebreak 10 in the women's team bronze final – precisely drilled, exactly when needed, and without question the arrow of the weekend.
I'd call her ‘the new Ksenia Perova’ – but I think Ksenia Perova might have something to say about that.
2. James Lutz, USA
The USA has many incredible young compound shooters, but it still takes something special to pull off the rare feat of a 150-point match in the finals arena – and in your debut international performance.
James Lutz also managed it against reigning World Cup champion and teammate Kris Schaff, who shot a 149. It was a remarkable debut. If he can keep his feet on the ground, he could write a new chapter in the history of the Hyundai Archery World Cup.
1. Danelle Wentzel, South Africa
Three consecutive 147s in matchplay carried Danelle Wentzel into a final where she stayed focused and strong against Alexis Ruiz – despite obvious nerves – to become the first South African archer to ever take gold at a stage of the Hyundai Archery World Cup.
Wentzel outperformed her career average, defied the odds, and kept her cool at exactly the right moments.
South Africa has now produced many incredible compound shooters. Can they take it one step further and take a world title? On the evidence produced in Antalya, it seems very possible.
The third stage of the 2019 Hyundai Archery World Cup took place on 20-26 May in Antalya, Turkey.
