News

Gibson and Lopez reach last four in Paris

17 August 2023

Paris, France

Real name:

Gibson, Vennam, Lopez and Gellenthien in compound women’s final four in Paris.

World number one Ella Gibson defeated new world champion Aditi Swami on her way to the final four of the compound women’s competition at the fourth stage of 2023 Hyundai Archery World Cup in Paris.

Gibson failed to make the last eight in Berlin earlier this month but was back to her best in the French capital, shooting 148 to defeat Swami in the last eight.

“Being able to go into the final four is really helpful finals experience again this year because I feel like it’s been a little while,” the Brit said.

“I feel like I haven’t had the best season performance wise, so as much as I can relax about the final, I still think how I do here and at all these events leading up to is really important to know where I am going into the final.”

The top four seeds all progressed to Saturday’s semifinals, with Gibson set to go up against top seed and Berlin individual bronze medallist Jyothi Surekha Vennam in the last four after she beat Dafne Quintero 147-144.

The other semifinal will see Sara Lopez take on Tanja Gellenthien, after they knocked out Fatin Mat Salleh and Marcella Tonioli respectively.

The recurve men’s final four comprises Antalya stage winner Jozef Bosansky, Jean Pizarro, Miguel Becerra and first-timer in the finals arena Stefan Heincz, after all top five seeds fell short early.

Gibson edged a rematch of the gold medal match in Shanghai earlier this year when she beat Cho Su A before beating mixed team world champion Alexis Ruiz in quarterfinals.

The Briton, Lopez and Swami are now all assured a spot in the Hyundai Archery World Cup Final due to their ranking positions, but the former pair can upgrade to a winner space with victory in Saturday’s final.

“I always like to get as much experience as I can and get used as much as I can, especially in the heat out here, because it’s so hot and you always react differently in the heat,” said Gibson.

The legendary Lopez admitted that she hadn’t felt this good for almost five years.

“I feel so powerful, so confident in my technique, so I’m just happy that I’m able to be what I want to be,” the Colombian said.

Braden Gellenthien shot his last international arrows on Thursday in Paris.

None of the men’s top five seeds progressed to the final four, with top archer Mathias Fullerton falling to Samadhan Prathamesh Jawkar in a shoot-off in the third round, while newly crowned World Archery Champion and second seed Ojas Pravin Deotale lost to Singapore’s Jiang Ying Eer in his first match.

There were also early exits for third seed Kris Schaff to compatriot Braden Gellenthien in the second round, while fellow American and fourth seed James Lutz lost to Adam Carpenter at the same stage.

Gellenthien would fall to Pizarro in the next match and it would prove the final arrows the 37-year-old would shoot in his career, with the legendary American retiring from the international circuit. He does so as the most successful archer in terms of medals in the circuit’s history.

Both Fullerton and Lutz, alongside Mike Schloesser, are all guaranteed a place in the Hyundai Archery World Cup Final on ranking points while Sawyer Sullivan will join them should Bosansky secure victory in Paris.

Jean Pizarro, Jozef Bosansky, Stefan Heincz, Miguel Becerra

The final four of the compound men’s contest will see Bosansky vie for a second stage victory of the season after he sealed his spot in the semifinal with a shoot-off victory over Julio Barillas.

The two archers were tied on 147 after five ends before the Slovakian, who claimed victory in Antalya earlier this year, produced a perfect shot to edge out his Guatemalan opponent.

“I am happy,” said Bosansky. “All the time when I go shooting, I am happy. When I can shoot more, I am happier. Now I have a minimum of two more matches, I am twice as happy.”

He will face Puerto Rico’s Pizarro for a place in the gold medal match who dramatically defeated Korea’s Kim Jongho after two shoot-offs.

After they both scored 148, they still were not separated by the first shoot-off as both shot 10s. But Pizarro sealed the win by finding the bull's eye on the second attempt.

The other semifinal will see final four first-timer Heincz take on Becerra, after they both shot 147 to beat Jawkar and Alexander Kullberg respectively.

“I feel good,” revealed Becerra. “I haven’t had a good year in competitions, and I was struggling a lot in the last few competitions, but I am very happy to close this circuit in the best way.”

The day’s results mean there will be at least two new names on the podium on Saturday, with Bosansky the only archer to have previously medalled at the 2023 Hyundai Archery World Cup.

Action in Paris continues on Friday with mixed team and recurve individual eliminations.