Who can win Olympic quota places at the European Championships?
The European Archery Championships in Antalya will award both continental champion titles and eight quota places to the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games: four in the recurve men’s competition, and four in the recurve women’s.
These quota places are reserved for countries in Europe and can only be won by nations that have not already qualified spots in the respective events.
There’s a maximum of one quota place per gender per nation available in Antalya.
Belarus, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Moldova, the Netherlands, Russia, Spain, Sweden and Ukraine have already qualified at least one archer at either the most recent Hyundai World Archery Championships or European Games in 2019.
Only Great Britain has a full quota – six athletes – and, as of today, only Italy and the Netherlands could also join the mixed team tournament, having secured a ticket for at least one man and one woman.
After next week’s championships in Antalya, only one last qualification tournament remains.
That event takes place in Paris in June. It is open to all nations, and team quotas will also be available.
Recurve men
Who’s already qualified? Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain.
Who’s competing in Antalya? Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Serbia, Switzerland, Slovakia, Sweden, Turkey and Ukraine.
What’s the story? There are archers from 33 countries fighting for just four quota places next week in Antalya. And there are plenty of names among them who would be seen as significant absentees if they didn’t end up qualifying.
The silver medallist from the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Jean-Charles Valladont, will look to book an individual quota for France – ahead of the final qualifier in Paris, where team tickets are available, in just a couple of weeks.
But on recent results, the French men might not even be deemed favourites.
Germany, the recurve men‘s team gold medallists from the second stage of the Hyundai Archery World Cup in Lausanne, doesn’t have a quota. Neither does Russia and its stable of competent athletes in the category.
World number two Mete Gazoz has to be a favourite to book a spot for Turkey on home soil.
But Moldova’s Dan Olaru, the Belarussian team led by Anton Prilepov, Belgium and Austria, and even a Danish archer winning one of the four spots wouldn’t be surprising. Competition is going to be fierce – and there will be archers, and teams, leaving Antalya disappointed.
Who are the favourites? Germany, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine.
Recurve women
Who’s already qualified? Belarus, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Moldova, Netherlands, Russia, Sweden and Ukraine.
Who’s competing in Antalya? Austria, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Lithuania, Montenegro, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Slovakia and Turkey.
What’s the story? The women’s quota tournament in Antalya looks significantly less difficult than the men’s, given that 10 European countries – compared to four – have already qualified at least one spot in the event.
There are clearer favourites, arguably led by reigning European Champion Yasemin Anagoz, who will both attempt to defend her continental title and book an Olympic ticket next week.
Perhaps the most intriguing story is that of our surprise finalist from the opening stage of the Hyundai Archery World Cup in Guatemala City.
Romania’s Madalina Amaistroaie made the final four out of nowhere, eventually finishing just off the podium, and put herself up to 33rd in the world rankings. Was it a fluke? A Romanian woman hasn’t competed in the archery events at the Olympic Games since 1980 (which was before any kind of quota system was introduced).
This is left-hander Lisa Barbelin’s time to shine for France.
Who are the favourites? France, Romania, Spain and Turkey.
Olympic qualification in Europe
These are the countries in Europe that have already secured quota places for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games ahead of the 2021 European Championships.
Belarus: 3 (3 women)
Denmark: 1 (1 woman)
Germany: 3 (3 women)
Great Britain: 6 (3 men, 3 women)
Italy: 2 (1 man, 1 woman)
Moldova: 1 (1 woman)
Netherlands: 4 (3 men, 1 woman)
Russia: 3 (3 women)
Spain: 1 (1 man)
Sweden: 1 (1 woman)
Ukraine: 3 (3 women)
Belarus: 3 (3 women)
Denmark: 1 (1 woman)
Germany: 3 (3 women)
Great Britain: 6 (3 men, 3 women)
Italy: 2 (1 man, 1 woman)
Moldova: 1 (1 woman)
Netherlands: 4 (3 men, 1 woman)
Russia: 3 (3 women)
Spain: 1 (1 man)
Sweden: 1 (1 woman)
Ukraine: 3 (3 women)Competition at the European Championships starts with qualification on Tuesday in Antalya. The Olympic quota places will be awarded on Friday 4 June.
