France to challenge two-time defending world champion Korea in mixed team final
Sophie Dodemont and Pierre-Julien Deloche of France will face two-time defending world champion Korea in the final of the compound mixed team event at the 2019 Hyundai World Archery Championships in ’s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands.
“A mix of feelings, a mix of emotions right now,” said an emotional PJ Deloche. “When we started shooting this morning, I wasn’t into my bow and that’s why we lost with my teammates in the compound men’s event.”
“I had to find myself again into this mixed team world and after that, Sophie kept her self-confidence, transferred it to me and we shot strong all the way until the last match.”
The French compound men lost to Colombia by one point, 231-230, in the quarterfinals.
In the mixed team event, Deloche and Dodemont defeated Slovenia in the second round – their first match – and Denmark in the quarters, setting up a meeting with Chinese Taipei in the semifinals.
The French pair shot two consecutive perfect ends of 40 points to lead by one at halfway. They stayed ahead over the back half to win by two, 156-154.
“The wind was a bit tricky at the beginning, during the first two matches, and then, during the last match, it was perfect, and it was all about the mental game,” said PJ.
The experienced French pair will meet first seed and the winner of the last two championships, Korea, represented by So Chaewon and Kim Jongho. Jongho has shot in the successful Korean compound mixed team for three consecutive worlds – but has had a different partner each time.
So and Kim shot matches of 159, 156 and 159 out of a possible 160 points. They beat Mexico, India and Colombia.
“It’s been a long time since Kim Jongho and I shot together in the mixed team, so I was a bit nervous because we didn’t have much time to practise in competition,” said Chaewon. “He was great in the morning and I also felt good. We trusted ourselves and that’s why we were able to shoot such high scores.”
The Korean team is well-placed to continue its dominance over the compound mixed team competition at the world championships.
“France is a very strong team and has a long history but Korea, our team, is improving fast and perfectly so I think we can make it,” said Chaewon.
Chinese Taipei and Colombia will contest the compound mixed team bronze medal.
The 2019 Hyundai World Archery Championships take place on 10-16 June in ’s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands.
