Preview: Veronica’s Cup in Slovenia offers world ranking points

According to the organisers of the Veronica’s Cup - and a little legend, perhaps - Veronica was a countess from Kamnik, Slovenia, where the tournament is held.

She was a very rich individual and disapproved of aid to the poor, so much so, that she rejected priests who asked for money to build a church for the local peasant population.

Because of her refusal to help those less fortunate she was punished and subsequently turned into a snake. The legend was born and tourists to the picturesque town are drawn to it.

As the organisers state: “The Veronica’s Cup is a competition which offers a lot to those who already are great archers and those trying to become.”

Let’s see what happens over the three-day tournament which is open entry, although still worth world ranking points.

It is also a popular stop for local and national teams plus independent athletes.

Names on the early entry list include the home nation’s recurver Den Habjan Malavasic who recently broke the European record for the double-70 (2 x 72 arrows), shooting a 1360, to beat the previous one by two (1358). The world number 53 is joined in competition by Israel’s world number 50, Itay Shanny, who finished ninth at Tokyo 2020.

The recurve women will feature a host of Slovenians, including double world championship women’s team bronze medallist Ana Umer. Going up against her are a whole host of others, including the Czech Republic’s Marie Horackova, who finished seventh in Antalya and is ranked 39th in the world.

World number 17 compound woman Amanda Mlinaric, from neighbouring Croatia, will be looking to defend her 2021 title in the compound and capitalise on her compound mixed team bronze from Antalya two weeks ago. 

Austria’s impressive world number five Nico Wiener could face off against Slovenia’s Aljaz Matija Brenk, who took silver in the mixed team event in Antlaya, in the compound men. The two met in the 2021 Veronica’s Cup final, with the Austrian taking a 145-141 win. 

Mlinaric, Wiener and Umer are in the Veronica’s Cup Hall of Fame, following their impressive performances last year.

With rain forecast for Friday and thunderstorms for the weekend, Kamnik and its competitors are set to face some challenging conditions.

Key information

What’s happening? A world ranking event from 6 to 8 May in Kamnik, Slovenia.

What’s at stake? World ranking points.

What’s the story? This mainly-European field of archers are preparing for the next stage of the Hyundai Archery World Cup, in Gwangju in a matter of weeks, as well as keeping their eye on their national team standings with the imminent European Championships coming up.

Schedule

• Friday 6 May: Qualification
• Saturday 7 May: Eliminations
• Sunday 8 May: Finals

How to watch

Last year, World Archery and World Archery Europe streamed the event live on their YouTube channels, with the broadcast schedule set to be confirmed for 2022.

Live scores will be available on the World Archery website and there will be coverage on World Archery’s digital platforms throughout the competition.

Who’s competing?

These are the top-ranked archers shooting at the Veronica’s Cup:

• Recurve men: Itay Shanny, Israel (world rank: 50)
• Recurve women: Marie Horackova, Czech Republic (world rank: 39)
• Compound men: Nico Wiener, Austria (world rank: 5)
• Compound women: Amanda Mlinaric, Croatia (world rank: 17)

Competition at the world ranking event in Kamnik starts with qualification on Friday.