Five archers to watch at the fourth stage of the 2022 Hyundai Archery World Cup
The fourth stage of the 2022 Hyundai Archery World Cup has arrived. The final chance to secure a golden ticket to the Hyundai Archery World Cup Final in Mexico in October.
Some of the world's best have not confirmed their Mexican spot yet and some are on the cusp of joining the already-qualified Miguel Alvarino, Kim Woojin, Marcus D’Almeida, Bryony Pitman, Choi Misun, Utano Agu, Mike Schloesser, Nicolas Girard, Ella Gibson and Kim Yunhee.
Woojin, Schloesser, An San and Sara Lopez all come to the event as current world number ones but two have work to do if they want to extend their circuit for a few more months and have a chance of sharing the circuit’s biggest-ever prize fund.
Alongside An and Lopez, plenty of others are nervously anticipating a good week in South America. We run the rule over five of them who we’re excited to watch next week (our experts have given their opinions too).
Agree? Disagree? Let us know on our social channels and follow our coverage of the fourth stage of the 2022 Hyundai Archery World Cup on World Archery’s digital platforms throughout the week.
1. Daniel Munoz
Who are they? Compound man from Colombia.
What’s the story? Sure, all the chat's been about Sara Lopez, but her mixed team partner Munoz has been going about his business.
In July alone, he won three gold medals at the Bolivarian Games an event so important to Colombia that their archers skipped stage three of the 2022 Hyundai Archery World Cup to ensure they would be ready for it. On Saturday, he won mixed team gold at the World Games with Lopez.
Back in April, he won Hyundai Archery World Cup mixed team gold with Lopez at stage one in Antalya.
However, individually, he has not set the circuit alight in 2022. Just a 17th and 33rd place finish in the first two stages has been his reward so far and he will be hoping that shooting on home soil can help him make the break from the duo work and bring his confidence from that back into his solitary game (and potentially repeat a Hyundai Archery World Cup Final podium place).
"I know she can shoot really, really good. It's makes me more confident to have a partner like her," said Munoz about shooting with Lopez.
"There are a lot more high-level competitions that we went to together and been in the finals (as a mixed team. It's more comfortable for me to shoot in mixed team. I feel a little bit more pressure in individual competition, but I also want to win individually."
We'll find out next week.
What’s the goal? It's simple, like every archer on the list: qualification through to the 2022 Hyundai Archery World Cup Final in Tlaxcala, Mexico.
Vital statistics
- Age: 33
- World ranking: 25
- Best result: Individual bronze - 2019 Hyundai Archery World Cup Final
- Instagram: @danielarquero
2. Brady Ellison
Who are they? Recurve man from the United States of America.
What’s the story? A Hyundai Archery World Cup legend, fighting for another final.
Are we witnessing the end of an era? The former world number one was an arrow short of equalling Sara Lopez's all-time Hyundai Archery World Cup Final record of six wins in Yankton last year, but has not qualified for the circuit-ender, yet.
In 2022, he has won five medals on the circuit, including gold, silver and bronze in mixed team, silver in men's team and bronze individually. But not gold.
His clear anger, frustration and disappointment of a third, straight World Games silver was evident in his post-final quotes. The pain of losing at home in the USA, where megabrand Coca-Cola even used his image in their advertising, was tangible. An hour after the medal ceremony, he was still shooting on the practice range.
Expect a more-than-usual focused Ellison in Medellin as he looks to not miss out the big one in Mexico.
We can't wait to see what the magician creates in South America.
What’s the goal? What's another way of saying 'qualification through to the 2022 Hyundai Archery World Cup Final in Tlaxcala, Mexico'?
Vital statistics
- Age: 33
- World ranking: 5
- Best result: Five-time Hyundai Archery World Cup Final Champion
- Instagram: @bradyellison
3. Mathias Fullerton
Who are they? Compound man from Denmark.
What’s the story? Blue glasses, Powerade, golf and a whole lot more. Teenager Fullerton is full of life as any 19-year-old would be.
Currently second in the 2022 Hyundai Archery World Cup rankings, a good qualifying day for the Dane will see him locked in for Mexico and a chance to add to his rapidly-expanding list of successes, which include world records and a double gold at the 2022 European Indoor Championships in Slovenia.
What’s the goal? You heard about the 2022 Hyundai Archery World Cup Final in Tlaxcala, Mexico right?
Vital statistics
- Age: 19
- World ranking: 3
- Best result: In archery? It's 2022 European Indoor Champion, but he also lists 'Top 4 Classic V-Speedway Champion' in his Instagram bio.
- Instagram: @mathiasfullerton
4. Katharina Bauer
Who are they? Recurve woman from Germany.
What’s the story? Almost qualified, Bauer just needs a good qualifying in Medellin to get some more points under her belt and be able to start looking at flights to Tlaxcala.
She will also be looking to get individual circuit gold for the first time this circuit. In almost a carbon copy of Ellison, Bauer has won individual bronze, multiple team medals and mixed team gold. Team gold and individual bronze were also won on home soil in Munich at the 2022 European Outdoor Championships.
Now shooting at her career-highest world ranking (4th) and career-highest arrow average (9.10) and qualification (665), can she qualify through to her first Hyundai Archery World Cup Final?
What’s the goal? Mexico, Mexico, Mexico (2022 Hyundai Archery World Cup Final in Tlaxcala)
Vital statistics
- Age: 26
- World ranking: 4
- Best result: Gold (team) and bronze (individual) European Championship winner
- Instagram: @_kaathi__
5. Laura van der Winkel
Who are they? Recurve woman from Netherlands.
What’s the story? In Antalya, she was a tiebreak and centimetres away from a ticket to Mexico at the very first attempt. Bryony Pitman's 8 was closer to the middle than hers and she missed out.
Since then, she has not returned to the podium. Colombia provides her a final opportunity in 2022 to win a stage again. Like Bauer, she is in her highest-ever world ranking (12) and also shooting a career-best average arrow (8.93).
A few weeks ago she warmed up nicely, finishing third in the Netherlands' national championships.
Currently sitting just nine points behind the third-placed Peng Chia-Mao in the 2022 Hyundai Archery World Cup rankings, a good qualification could push her closer to a South American voyage in October.
What’s the goal? Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala (2022 Hyundai Archery World Cup Final in Mexico)
Vital statistics
- Age: 20
- World ranking: 12
- Best result: Individual silver at Antalya 2022
- Instagram: @lauravdwinkel
