Canadian Olympian Duenas completes Lockdown Knockout semifinal line-up
Crispin Duenas shot 12 10s in a four-set victory over Brazil’s Bernardo Oliveira to take the last place in the semifinals of the Lockdown Knockout. The three-time Olympian from Canada joins Steve Wijler, Aida Roman and Gaby Bayardo in the final four.
“I’m very happy with my shooting today. I think I’m going to have to do this and more against Steve on Friday,” said Crispin.
“He’s a really good shooter, who I know can shoot 12s on command. I’m the only man who hasn’t shot a 12 yet, so I should start practising that more… just in case.”
This remote international tournament has introduced a unique target for recurve archers. A small 15mm white dot in between the eight and seven rings on the top of the triple-spot target is worth 12 points.
It’s a high-risk high-reward proposition – but one Crispin didn’t need to take as he drilled all 12 of his arrows in the quarterfinal into the 10, taking the standard maximum of 30 points in four straight sets.
Oliveira hit the 12 once. But he did so in the first set when it was already lost.
The 27-year-old Brazilian archer shot three 10s in the third set, sharing those set points. But he was playing catch-up throughout and couldn’t find the late burst he needed in the fourth to crack another 30 from the top seed and extend the contest.
He’d shot two 10s but a third wouldn’t have been enough. He missed the 12 and ended the match with one hit on three attempts.
“It took me too long to get into the match and this has been a problem for some time,” said Oliveira. “It takes me too long to get into my groove and this was definitely the case today. But it was some amazing shooting from Crispin.”
“I hope he wins because I want to say I lost to the champion.”
Duenas will face Steve Wijler – who knocked out world number one Brady Ellison in their quarterfinal – in the men’s semifinal on Friday 19 June. Aida Roman and Gaby Bayardo will contest the women’s semifinal one day before that, on Thursday 18 June.
The winner of the Lockdown Knockout will receive 1000 CHF and runner-up 500 CHF in prize money.
