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Korea and home nation Germany take recurve team world titles

4 August 2023

Berlin, Germany

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German recurve women win world title on home soil.

Germany delighted a home crowd with women’s team gold in Berlin while Korea clinched men’s and mixed team victories in a thrilling recurve afternoon at the 2023 Hyundai World Archery Championships.

Katharina Bauer, Michelle Kroppen and Charline Schwarz beat France’s Caroline Lopez, Lisa Barbelin and Audrey Adiceom in the gold medal match after overcoming Mexico in straight sets in the semifinal.

“I don’t think anything can be better than becoming world champion in Berlin,” said Kroppen. “We don’t have the Olympics in Germany at the moment, that could be even better, but for now this is the highest we can reach. With the home crowd it is unbelievable.”

“We really felt the crowd,” added Schwarz. “We took the happiness and support and put up some really good strong shots. We were really happy for all the support that we got.”

Alejandra Valencia, Aida Roman and Angela Ruiz beat the Dutch trio to the bronze medal.

Germany, Mexico and the Netherlands booked three Olympic quota spots each for Paris 2024 when they reached the final fours of the women’s team event in Berlin, France getting an automatic full set of places as host country of the Games.

They will be joined by Korea, Türkiye and Japan who took the medals in the men’s team event, with Korea edging Türkiye in the gold medal match after Japan beat Italy to the bronze.

With a backdrop of the iconic Olympiastadion, the finals stage in Berlin was blessed with a raucous atmosphere generated by home fans, something the archers revealed made a big difference.

Korea won two team gold medals at the worlds in Berlin.

Elsewhere, Kim Woojin responded to a surprise exit in the individual competition with two golds as Korea retained its titles in the recurve men’s and mixed events.

Kim, Kim Je Deok and Lee Woo Seok assumed their dominance on the world stage with a 6-2 win over Türkiye, while Kim teamed up with Lim Sihyeon to earn his second gold of the day just an hour later.

Korea have now won the gold medal in the men’s team event 12 times, starting in Seoul in 1985.

“We were able to do exactly what we wanted to do here,” said Woojin. “We are going to do our best at the Paris Olympics and get to the highest point we can.”

Korea also clinched mixed team gold as Kim earned his second gold of the day alongside Lim, denying home hero Kroppen the same feat.

Kim and Lim beat Kroppen and Florian Unruh 5-1, but the German pair took the positives from a silver medal showing in front of a home crowd.

“I feel happy and I think Michelle too,” Unruh said. “The Koreans shot a little bit stronger than us and the sun was a little bit difficult. Really nice atmosphere from the stadium and yeah, it was nice.”

Türkiye battled from 4-0 down in the semifinal against Italy to win 6-4 and seal an Olympic quota spot despite missing out on the gold in the recurve men’s.

Reigning individual Olympic Champion Mete Gazoz is more determined than ever after sealing his country’s first-ever men’s team World Archery Championships medal and booking a place in Paris.

“We are super happy, it is the first men’s team world championships medal,” he said. I am proud of my team [Berkim Tumer and Abdullah Yildirmis] because they never gave up, always listened to me, they were brave.”

“I will win the gold medal [in Paris]. Nobody has won two golds in a row in archery and I want to be the first.”

Japan took the third quota spot with their 6-2 bronze medal win over Italy after being knocked out in a semifinal shootout by Türkiye.

“It is not only three people, this is for everyone in Japan and all Japanese archers,” said Takaharu Furukawa. “We have a good ability to shoot at world level, and we are so happy we could show that.”

Competition continues with compound women’s individual finals on Saturday morning in Berlin.