Italian recurve women upset host Germany to first team gold in a decade

Italy’s Tanya Giaccheri, Chiara Rebagliati and Elena Tonetta upset host German athletes Lisa Unruh, Elena Richter and Michelle Kroppen to win the gold medal in the recurve women’s team event at the fourth stage of the 2019 Hyundai Archery World Cup in Berlin, Germany.

“Every time you win is a good experience and sensation. We are happy to do this,” said Tonetta. “When we left home, we didn’t expect these results, but here, with the team, all was good, our communication and our feeling.”

Both teams opened the final with sets of 52 points and split the set points.

The Italian women followed up with a pair of 55s against a 49 and a 53 from an uncomfortable Germany. It was enough to secure victory, 5-1.

“It wasn’t so easy [to shoot in the wind], especially because the training field had different conditions, but the wind was for all. We did the best we could,” said Tonetta.

“It’s been many years since I competed at a high level, now I have a baby, I’m a mom and stopped shooting for some period, but now I’m back. I hope to have more opportunities like this.”

This is the first gold medal in 10 years on the Hyundai Archery World Cup circuit for Italy’s recurve women’s team. Tonetta was on the squad that won in Santo Domingo in 2009, with Natalia Valeeva and Jessica Tomasi.

Valeeva was the coach in the box behind this winning team in Berlin.

After silver in Medellin to open the season, the gold medal is the second podium of the year for the Italian recurve women.

An San, Jeon Ina and Jung Dasomi of Korea beat Lei Chien-Ying, Lin Chia-En and Tan Ya-Ting of Chinese Taipei in three sets, 5-1, to take the recurve women’s bronze medal.

The fourth stage of the 2019 Hyundai Archery World Cup takes place on 1-7 July in Berlin, Germany.