Chinese Taipei beats USA to secure second world champion title
Chinese Taipei’s Chen Yi-Hsuan, Chen Li Ju and Huang I-Jou beat Alexis Ruiz, Paige Pearce and Cassidy Cox of the USA to win the compound women’s team title at the 2019 Hyundai World Archery Championships in ’s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands.
“At the beginning, we were falling behind the USA, but we were confident that we could win,” said Huang. “I’m delightful to win this gold medal, it’s the first one for me.”
Trailing by two points at the halfway point, 112-114, Chinese Taipei found an extra gear. Chen, Chen and Huang shot two ends of 58 and 59 points to storm ahead of a pair of 55s from the USA. Taipei won the match by five, 229-224.
This is Chinese Taipei’s second world title, second in this particular event and first in 20 years. The team’s only previous crown was won in Riom in 1999.
“We were confident, we believed in our team. We believe we can do more in the future,” added Yi-Hsuan, who celebrated graduating from her university masters course on the qualification field on Friday.
The USA was the higher-seeded team in the arena, ranked seventh to Taipei’s ninth. Despite starting with two ends of 57 points, Alexis, Paige and Cassidy couldn’t keep up with their opponent’s late run.
“Honestly, I feel like we performed as a team, but none of us shot how we would have liked. I know we were all capable of more, but when you get into a finals venue it’s always such a different experience than a normal competition field,” said Pearce.
“I don’t think there is anything we could have done in that moment to change the outcome of the match. I know all three of us gave it out all, and sometimes that’s all you can do. You win some, and you lose some.”
Chinese Taipei seeded ninth in ’s-Hertogenbosch with a combined score of 2066 points.
The team beat Russia, 233-228; and then upset 2017 world champion Colombia, 226-223 – finally beating Turkey, 225-222, to make the final.
In the compound women’s team bronze medal match, Muskan Kirar, Raj Kaur and Jyothi Surekha Vennam of India beat Yesim Bostan, Gizem Elmaagacli and Ipek Tomruk of Turkey by four points, 229-225.
The 2019 Hyundai World Archery Championships take place on 10-16 June in ’s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands.
