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First final fours for Estonia, Puerto Rico on international tour

21 April 2022

Antalya, Turkey

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Estonia’s Lisell Jaatma in action at Antalya 2022.

Eight compound archers from seven countries spread across three continents have made it through to the first final fours of the 2022 Hyundai Archery World Cup circuit.

Three-time and current Hyundai Archery World Cup Champion Mike Schloesser, along with Jean Philippe Boulch, Adrien Gontier and Jean Pizarro have qualified through to the semifinals of the men’s competition with Chen Yi-Hsuan, Ella Gibson, Alejandra Usquiano and Lisell Jaatma making it to the last phase of the compound women’s event.

The result is extra special for Estonia’s Jaatma and Puerto Rico’s Pizarro as they will not only make their arena debuts but will fly the flags of their nations for the first-ever time in the final fours.

“I wasn’t sure about my form because it’s our first competition this season,” said Jaatma, who is finally translating her impeccable indoor form over the past few years to outdoor evets. “It’s really important [for Estonia to do well] because we are a small country. We all live in a small town, train and shoot together. The team bronze and this is amazing. I’m really happy and excited and pretty confident. I think I can do it – I want to win.”

Standing in her way in the final could be Britain’s Gibson, who will also debut in the arena.

“I’m so happy, it feels like it’s been forever that I’ve been trying to get there,” said the world number 13. “It’s amazing to do it at the first event of the season. Anyone is more than capable of winning this so I’m just going to try and focus on me and see where it takes me.”

Gibson is now the highest seed (5) left in the compound women’s competition after dispatching Andrea Munoz (149-143), Sanne de Laat (145-142) and Ayse Bera Suzer (145-144) to set up a semifinal against Chinese Taipei’s Chen Yi-Hsuan, who has not shot at this level since 2019 due to the global pandemic.

Estonia’s Jaatma will face 2013 Archery World Cup Champion Alejandra Usquiano in the semifinals after the Colombian archer beat teammate and world number one Sara Lopez in the quarterfinals (146-144), while just nextdoor Jaatma defeated number two seed and host nation favourite Yesim Bostan, 143-140.

Jaatma’s teammate and number one seed Meeri-Marita Paas went out in her first match against India’s Priya Gurjar, losing with a closer 10 after tying at 140 points apiece.

Mike Schloesser shoots his way into the final four at Antalya 2022

In the compound men’s competition, a mouthwatering semifinal between world number one Schloesser and the in-form Jean Philippe Boulch awaits.

Schloesser, who seeded top at all three stages of the 2021 Hyundai Archery World Cup, has continued his form into 2022 as the top qualifier in Antalya. He then saw off world number two Mathias Fullerton, 146-144, in the quarterfinals, while Boulch registered impressive scores of 150 – a perfect match – and 149 on his way to the arena ticket.

“There’s still room for improvement,” said Schloesser. “I could have shot a bit better than I did but it was good enough to reach the final four. “It’s his [Fullerton’s] first international season and he’s world number two so you have to be a very good shot to make that happen and he’s proved it again by reaching this stage of the competition.”

A win for Boulch could set up a final against his French teammate Adrien Gontier, who seeded way down in 59th place but is now in a semifinal against surprise second seed Jean Pizarro. The Puerto Rican archer is enjoying the form of his life.

“I’ve been competing in the world cup since 2007… 2008 and this is the first finals for me,” said the world number 26.

“The most difficult part of the tournament is over for me, so I just want to enjoy the finals and whatever happens is okay for me.”

Competition continues at the Hyundai Archery World Cup season opener on Friday with mixed team eliminations in the morning and recurve eliminations in the afternoon.