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Paralympian Milne wins a World Cup bronze with Australia in Yecheon

22 May 2024

Yecheon, Korea

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The Australian team celebrates winning bronze in Yecheon.

Australia’s compound men’s team shocked world number one India to win bronze at the second stage of the 2024 Hyundai Archery World Cup in Yecheon.

Featuring two-time Paralympian Jonathon Milne shooting in the fifth able-bodied international of his decade-long career, the 11th-seeded Australian team overcame host country Korea and then lost to Türkiye before beating the winners of the season opener, India, in a dramatic shoot-off.

“It’s a bit of a surprise. We can all shoot well but it just comes down to being able to do it on the day,” said Milne, who won bronze at the Paralympic Games in 2016.

“Today there were a couple of loose ones in there but when it came time to get them in the middle, we got them in there so, that’s all that counts.”

Milne hasn’t shot on the able-bodied team since 2018. This is his first able-bodied podium.

“It’s a big surprise,” Milne said. “I knew I had it in me but to come out and do it when it counts is what matters.”

Both teams shot 233 in regulation. Both teams shot perfect tiebreaks.

Australia had an arrow closer to the middle.

Türkiye has a squad in both compound team finals. The men will face the USA on Saturday morning, shortly after the women face India.

The Turkish women threatened the world record (238) in their first match.

Two dropped arrows in the fourth end saw them miss it by a point – but beat a less-than-form Mexico by four. They then beat the top-seeded hosts from Korea, who shot a qualifying world record here in Yecheon, in the semis.

“We always do our best,” said Türkiye’s Hazal Burun.

“Our previous competition went very well, and we became European Champions. We wanted to bring that form here and we’ve brought it. I hope the final will be much better.”

The men’s world best also came under fire.

Clean through three ends of their quarterfinal against Italy, Kris Schaff, Sawyer Sullivan and James Lutz looked on course for the first-ever perfect 24-arrow team match. But then one drifted right and the tension was broken – a 238.

“We’ll get the next one,” said coach Chris Webster.

The tricky wind picked up and, instead, the US needed a tiebreak to beat India, 29-27.

“Obviously, it’s [the world record] in the back of your mind but the real goal is to make the gold medal match,” said Schaff. “And hopefully we’ll win the gold medal.”

Competition in Yecheon continues with recurve qualifying this afternoon.