Five archers to watch at the first stage of the 2022 Hyundai Archery World Cup

All roads lead to Antalya as the 16th season of the Hyundai Archery World Cup has arrived, with stage one starting in Turkey on Monday.

Some 341 archers from 47 countries are registered to compete.

Among that group are three of the reigning circuit champions – Brady Ellison, Sara Lopez and Mike Schloesser – with the fourth, Lisa Unruh, having a break in 2022.

But there are 338 other talented archers from across Africa, the Americas, Europe, Asia and Oceania in Turkey as they take their first steps on the path to Hyundai Archery World Cup Final glory and a share of the circuit’s biggest-ever prize fund.

While Ellison, Lopez and Schloesser will be strong favourites to take another overall circuit win, only Ellison is a previous stage-winner on the beach in Antalya, having taken individual honours at the 2019 edition, the last time the circus came to town.

We take a look at five other archers we’re watching in Antalya.

Agree? Disagree? Let us know on our social channels and follow our coverage of the first stage of the 2022 Hyundai Archery World Cup on World Archery’s digital platforms throughout the week.

1. Mete Gazoz

Who are they? Recurve man from Turkey.

What’s the story? The reigning Olympic Champion, world number two and shooting on home soil.

Last July, Gazoz became Turkey’s first-ever archery medallist in the history of the sport at the Games when the 22-year-old defeated veteran Italian Mauro Nespoli in a five-set final, delivering back-to-back 10s with his final arrows to secure the victory. 

He will be desperate to show that his disappointment at the Spring Arrows last week was a one-off.

What’s the goal? Secure his third career stage win – and first on home soil.

Vital statistics

• Age: 22
• World ranking: 2
• Best result: Tokyo 2020 Olympic Champion
• Instagram: @metegazoz

2. Ella Gibson

Who are they? Compound woman from Great Britain.

What’s the story? Rising star with a compound and identified as a rival by the GOAT. When you are named by one of the legends of the sport as one of your nearest rivals and competitors, you know you are doing something right. But when Sara Lopez name-checked Gibson as one of a handful of fellow compounders she had to be wary of, it was no surprise.

You only need to look at Gibson’s current form: just a few weeks ago she broke the European record and in February she became European indoor champion. The coming season could be a sweet one both in and out of competition for Gibson. She is moving to a bespoke training field as part of her father’s ice cream business relocation.

What’s the goal? Win her first stage (she has only won team golds before) and break Lopez’s stranglehold on the circuit.

Vital statistics

• Age: 21
• World ranking: 13
• Best result: European Indoor Champion in 2022, runner-up at European outdoors (in Antalya) in 2021
• Instagram: @ella.gibson_archery

3. Madalina Amaistroaie

Who are they? Recurve woman from Romania.

What’s the story? Amaistroaie became the first Romanian woman to qualify for an Olympic Games (pre-quota era excepted) when she booked a slot to Tokyo 2020. That wasn’t long after she became the first archer from her country to make the final four at a stage of the Hyundai Archery World Cup, which she did at the first event last year.

What’s the goal? Fourth place in Guatemala’s season opener in 2021, one better in 2022.

Vital statistics

• Age: 19
• World ranking: 17
• Best result: Fourth place at the first stage of the 2021 Hyundai Archery World Cup in Guatemala City.
• Instagram: @madalina_amaistroaie

4. Lei Chien-Ying

Who are they? Recurve woman from Chinese Taipei.

What’s the story? Lei is one of the most successful athletes in the history of Taipei archery, being the first to win an individual world title, in 2019, after taking team bronze at the 2016 Olympic Games.

Her career shows no signs of ending though, going well beyond the age at which most athletes’ careers end in Taipei. But despite winning 14 Hyundai Archery World Cup stage medals, including team golds, she’s never done better than individual bronze. (And she’s got three of those.) 

What’s the goal? Gold.

Vital statistics

• Age: 31
• World ranking: 35
• Best result: 2019 World Archery Champion

5. Jayanta Talukdar 

Who are they? Recurve man from India.

What’s the story? An incredible 34 Hyundai Archery World Cup stages and 22 medals. Three Hyundai Archery World Cup Finals, one medal. Talukdar has legendary experience on the international circuit and is back once again, after qualifying through the Indian selection last month.

Based in Cruwahhuti, Talukdar won his first Hyundai Archery World Cup medal in 2006. His most recent came 10 years later, in 2016. He dropped off the Indian team the next year – but returns to the global stage, now, five years later.

What’s the goal? A strong performance could cement his spot for the Asian Games in September.

Vital statistics

• Age: 36
• World ranking: Unranked
• Best result: Bronze at the 2010 Archery World Cup Final