News

World number one D’Almeida and Olympic Champion Gazoz book final eight spots

3 August 2023

Berlin, Germany

Real name:

World number one Marcus D’Almeida into recurve men’s final eight in Berlin.

World number one Marcus D’Almeida and Olympic Champion Mete Gazoz booked their places in the final eight of the recurve men’s competition at the 2023 Hyundai World Archery Championships in Berlin.

The reigning World Champion Kim Woojin was knocked out by 19-year-old Arif Pangestu.

D’Almeida battled wind throughout to prevail against Mauro Nespoli, replicating his last-16 display against Senna Roos.

“The wind was crazy, I shot a lot of arrows with my sights in the blue and the black,” the Brazilian said.

“I didn’t feel any pressure being world number one. For me, it is the same; a bow and arrow and shooting. I just do my best. It is just a number.”

He will face Kim Je Deok of South Korea who beat Pablo Acha in the last 16.

“I like shooting in the final,” D’Almeida said. “Let’s try for the gold medal. I like the pressure, the finals stage is my place.”

Türkiye’s Gazoz opened his day with a victory over Oscar Ticas, before registering back-to-back 6-0 victories including a decisive win over 2021 bronze medallist Brady Ellison.

It set up a quarterfinal with 50th seed Ricardo Soto, who shocked second seed Dhiraj Bommadevara with a hard-fought 6-4 victory to book his spot in the last eight.

“When it’s so windy, you have to have self-confidence,” Gazoz said. “I am just focusing on myself. Mete against Mete is my hardest match.”

“If we have that much wind, everything is possible because your aim moves all the time. I am very happy with how I shot.”

An outstanding competitor in difficult weather conditions, the Olympic Champion hopes his form will continue to improve before the finals.

“I love this city, I love this field because the last two World Cups I won here. I hope each day I get better.”

“Tomorrow, we have team finals, I hope we get the Olympic quota and the gold medal. And then on Sunday, I hope I can win the world title.”

Eric Peters making recurve men’s final eight in Berlin.

Kim Woojin qualified top on Tuesday but fell short to Indonesia’s Pangestu in search of a place in the final eight, ending his quest for a fourth individual world title in Berlin.

Pangestu, who has a world ranking of 182, will play Japan’s Saito Fumiya in the final eight as he breezed past Qi Xiangshuo in straight sets.

Steve Wijler is also through after beating Nicolas Bernardi in another close-fought head-to-head that went to a shoot-off.

The Dutch archer will face Canada’s Eric Peters who, despite losing his national coach earlier this year, found a good run as the 36th seed.

“It has been a tough year or so for Archery Canada,” Peters explained. “We lost our coach recently so there has been a little bit of uncertainty at home which makes life a little difficult.”

He beat fourth seed Lee Woo Seok in the round of 32 before knocking out home favourite Florian Unruh in the last-16.

“The conditions were difficult but I practice for this a lot,” Peters said. “I go out there when it’s bad, my bow is set up for that.”

“I have done some of my best shooting in front of crowds so I am excited to see what comes. There is no pressure because everyone can beat everyone.”

Competition continues with team finals on Friday in Berlin.