Barbelin’s potential on display during world-ranking win in Porec
Lisa Barbelin, Beligto Tsynguev, Amanda Mlinaric and Mike Schloesser took the individual titles at the 2021 European Grand Prix and world-ranking event in Porec, Croatia.
Barbelin showcased the same talent and promise that earned her recognition as the top woman to the French team for the upcoming Hyundai Archery World Cup season. The 20-year-old registered multiple impressive finishes during the remote indoor season that just ended.
She battled through some wild arrows – including a three in the third set and a dirty release in the fifth – to defeat experienced Ukrainian archer Anastasia Pavlova in the recurve women’s final, 6-4.
“I feel so great,” Barbelin said. “It was a very good final with some mistakes, but I have to keep improving and be better at the next competition. This win will help me to be confident after this strange period.”
Barbelin needed a nine with her last arrow of the match to seal the win and delivered.
It won’t be the last time this year that she will be called upon to execute in a big moment. France currently has no quota places qualified to the Olympic Games – and Barbelin one of the nation’s biggest hopes to secure a spot.
The recurve men’s final went the full length of regulation, too.
Russia's Tsynguev looked in command, winning the first two sets, but a surge from his German opponent, Maximilian Weckmueller, who shot volleys of 28 and 29 points, saw the match levelled.
Mike Schloesser shoots during the finals of the European Grand Prix in Porec in 2021.
The compound men’s podium at the European Grand Prix in Porec in 2021.
Amanda Mlinaric shoots during the finals of the European Grand Prix in Porec in 2021.
The compound women’s podium at the European Grand Prix in Porec in 2021.
Beligto Tsynguev shoots during the finals of the European Grand Prix in Porec in 2021.
The recurve men’s podium at the European Grand Prix in Porec in 2021.
Lisa Barbelin shoots during the finals of the European Grand Prix in Porec in 2021.
The recurve women’s podium at the European Grand Prix in Porec in 2021.
Lisa Barbelin celebrates winning gold at the European Grand Prix in Porec in 2021.
Jozef Bosansky and Mariya Skholna celebrate their silver medals at the European Grand Prix in Porec in 2021.
A tied fifth sent it to a shoot-off. After Weckmueller shot a left 10, which was inside but touching the line, Tsynguev snuck his shaft inside.
The rules have reverted this season, with no second shoot-off if both archers shoot 10s in a tiebreak. The match was called for Tsynguev.
“I’m really satisfied, because after the other archer shot a 10, I had no option but to do so as well,” he said. “I’m really very happy to have won. I’ve been preparing for a long time.”
Tsynguev was a member of the Russian team in 2015. He dropped off the radar but returned to the international arena in 2019.
Dutch world number two Schloesser defeated Slovakia’s Jozef Bosansky in the compound men’s gold medal match, 145-143. Having built an early lead, he was never really threatened.
Local knowledge paid off for Croatian compound woman Mlinaric.
She trailed Mariya Shkolna for much of their final but, with the wind blustering and Shkolna dropping two arrows low and into the red in the fourth end, Mlinaric took advantage, taking an eventual seven-point victory, 143-136.
Some 180 archers from 23 countries competed at this European Grand Prix.
It is one of the last world-ranking events before the end of the world-ranking transition period. Ranking points will begin to depreciate again from 1 April.
Individual winners
- Recurve men: Beligto Tsynguev, Russia
- Recurve women: Lisa Barbelin, France
- Compound men: Mike Schloesser, Netherlands
- Compound women: Amanda Mlinaric, Croatia
