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Mixed team finals in Limerick see Israel pair climb historic podium

6 July 2023

Limerick, Ireland

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Israel’s mixed team won the country’s first world podium.

Compound mixed teams from the USA (under-18) and India (under-21) and recurve pairs from Japan (under-18) and Korea (under-21) collected the first four titles in Limerick as Shamai Yamrom and Romi Maymon collected Israel’s first-ever medal at a world archery championships.

The pair were tied with India’s Avneet Kaur and Priyansh after three ends of the compound under-21 mixed team final.

Then the wind picked up – and needing a nine to put the match out of reach, was blown off course for a six. Against all odds in the conditions, the Indian duo delivered two final 10s to win an early gold medal at these World Archery Youth Championships.

“It was a really close win due to weather conditions,” said Kaur, the current senior world number 26. “It was neck-to-neck. They were losing, we were losing, but we managed to take it to the end so we are happy.”

Priyansh added that aiming was hard.

“But we still managed to bag the gold,” he concluded.

The historic silver medal for Israel has been some time coming, and arrives only two years after the country sent its first archer to the Olympic Games, with 18-year-old Yamrom leading the charge by collecting multiple top-10 finishes in 2023, including a silver medal at the European Grand Prix in Great Britain in April.

Israel collected its first-ever world podium after losing the compound under-21 mixed team final to India.

Dewey Hathaway shoots as Olivia Dean watches on in the compound under-18 mixed team final.

Japan’s Wada Aoi and Shirai Kosei celebrate a four-set win over the USA in the recurve under-18 mixed team final.

Korea’s teams curiously entered the arena without a coach on the first day of finals.

Yeom Hyejeong shoots for Korea during the recurve under-21 mixed team final against Chinese Taipei.

A familiar line-up on the recurve under-21 mixed team podium: Korea, Chinese Taipei and India.

The wind was a deciding factor throughout the afternoon.

Britain’s compound under-18 pairing of Ioan Rees and Isabella Bruguier needed 18 points from their last two arrows to defeat the USA. But the gusts picked up when Bruguier stepped to the line and, shooting a back tension release, she took a while to settle and eventually deliver an eight.

Rees had no time left on the clock – and tried to send an arrow that wasn’t properly on the rest down fast, ultimately resulting in a win for Olivia Dean and Dewey Hathaway.

The recurve under-21 mixed team final featured a familiar line-up.

Teams from Korea and Chinese Taipei are gold medal match regulars on the senior circuit, and the two squads contested the title here in Limerick. Curiously, the Korean pair entered the arena without a coach (although there is no shortage of management at this event).

After falling two sets down, following an opening barrage of 38- and 39-point sets from the Taipei team, Korea’s Yeom Hyejeong and Won Jonghyuk fought back to force a tie – despite the former’s seven in the fourth set.

Two nines won the tiebreak.

“I was nervous without a coach and I panicked at first,” said Yeom. “But I think we did well because we relied on each other. We relied on each other more as teammates.”

Competition continues with compound team day on Thursday in Limerick.