Preview: Brady back? Woojin still favourite to defend World Cup crown

“I’ve shot well enough to win every event,” said five-time circuit winner Brady Ellison in an interview during this year’s fourth stage in Paris. “Except the worlds.”

The problem is – it’s just not quite been enough at every event. And it is a problem…

…because Kim Woojin is building his burgeoning legacy – fast. Woojin just needs to win this year in Hermosillo to equal Ellison for second in the all-time circuit trophies list with five. (Two behind Sara Lopez’s current total of seven.)

It’s not hard to imagine several configurations of the recurve men’s podium at this Hyundai Archery World Cup Final. But ever-present Brazilian Marcus D’Almeida has to feature in most of them. He just needs to hope the bracket draw falls his way with, ideally, Woojin on the other side.

Finals for the recurve men in Hermosillo start at 20h00 (local) on Sunday 10 September. Stream on archery+.

Line-up

The top two seeds are listed in bold and will be placed at opposite ends of the bracket. A match draw will determine the positions of the other archers.

• Lee Woo Seok, Korea
• Marcus D’Almeida, Brazil (stage winner, world number one)
• Kim Woojin, Korea (stage winner, defending champion)
• Mauro Nespoli, Italy (stage winner)
• Brady Ellison, USA
• Dhiraj Bommadevara, India
• Dan Olaru, Moldova (stage winner)
• Matias Grande, Mexico (host nation representative)

Bold prediction

Dan Olaru will be on the podium in Hermosillo.

Moldova’s first Hyundai Archery World Cup medallist, and first stage winner, forewent most of the major events for the rest of the season after taking gold at the season opener in Antalya. He even chose to go to the World University Games (where he finished fourth) rather than the worlds.

Olaru was the first foreign archer to arrive in Mexico. This is his big event in 2023. It’ll pay off.