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Lopez wins round one of Gibson compound clash

23 July 2022

Medellin, Colombia

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Colombia win compound women's team gold in Medellin

Compound Saturday at the fourth stage of the 2022 Hyundai Archery World Cup got underway with Colombia, France and Denmark winning gold in the women's, men's and mixed team finals in Medellin, Colombia.

Sara Lopez got the first strike in against rival Ella Gibson ahead of their final four individual clash this afternoon, with Colombia downing Great Britain 232-228 in the compound women's final.

"I am very happy because the goal of the day for me was this medal," said Lopez, who shot with Maria Valentina Suarez and Alejandra Usquiano.

"The individual medal takes a back seat when you have a team responsibility. I already have individual medals, and for me the objective was the team gold."

"I feel very happy and very supported," said Lopez about her family in attendance at the Parque del Rio. "I know it was not easy for them to come here and they all made sacrifices to come with me."

In a taster of the main course to come later between the former world number one and now world number two Lopez and new world number one Gibson, both shot a 10 with their opening arrows.

Despite going behind after the first end (56-57) Colombia, buoyed by a vocal, local support in rainy conditions came back with a 59 in the second to go 115-113 ahead and not look back.

"I am very excited and happy," said Suarez who registered her first-ever Hyundai Archery World Cup medal. "I have an incredible team and I feel that I was at the same level as Sara and Alejandra. I gave my best. To feel that you are being congratulated by the best in the world makes me feel very happy. Being with family, friends, coaches and the whole team also gives me a lot of happiness and more security."

Despite the defeat, Gibson was still happy but knows more is to come from the British trio.

"We're definitely proud as a team to be able to make it into a final and win another world cup medal, especially as a new team," she said.

"It's a really great debut. Losing a gold medal match, you’re never going to be 100% satisfied. There's a lot of improvement that we can make as a team and next time we can take the gold."

Linda Ochoa-Anderson waves goodbye to the Hyundai Archery World Cup

The compound mixed team gold went to Denmark, who defeated the USA 157-150.

Tanja Gellenthien and Mathias Fullerton had pulled ahead by two in the second end but after the USA's James Lutz shot a 7 in the third, the Danes were 118-111 ahead and cruising.

The match was significant for Lutz's partner Linda Ochoa-Anderson. The veteran shooter, who made her international debut 20 years ago and who was shooting in her 40th Hyundai Archery World Cup stage, revealed earlier this week that Medellin would be her last appearance on the circuit.

And after being presented with her medal by Tom Dielen, secretary general of World Archery, Ochoa-Anderson was emotional, Dielen later revealing “I just thanked her for her contribution to the sport and said that it’s thanks to people like her that we will get compound in the Olympic Games.”

In the compound men's team final Colombia could not make it another gold, losing 231-233 to France.

The European team of Jean Philippe Boulch, Nicolas Girard and Adrien Gontier started with a 59-57 end and the two-point difference stayed the same for the remainder of the match with 58s scored by both teams in the remaining three.

Mexico won bronze, coming from behind with two 40s in their last two ends to see off Korea 157-156.

Competition continues on Saturday with compound individual finals in the afternoon.