Five things to watch in anticipation of the 2025 Hyundai Archery World Cup
The 2025 Hyundai Archery World Cup kicks off next week in Central Florida, USA, beginning a thrilling journey through four stages and culminating in the grand final in Nanjing, China.
The tour brings together the world’s top archers as they battle for supremacy, aiming to make history and to lift the coveted trophy in October.
As the premier international archery circuit returns for its 19th edition — it would have been the 20th had the event not been cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic — the calendar is packed with thrilling events in locations old and new.
Here are five key storylines to follow ahead of another exciting season.
1. New venues, historic firsts
This year’s tour mixes iconic stops with fresh destinations.
Shanghai returns for a remarkable 15th time, while Antalya hosts its 18th stage, reinforcing its role as a cornerstone of the circuit.
Madrid makes its World Cup debut (though it hosted the 2019 World Archery Youth Championships), while Central Florida becomes the fourth location in the USA to welcome the tour, after Ogden, Salt Lake City and Yankton.
The final in Nanjing is a historic first for China and promises a spectacular climax before the season-closing event returns to Mexico for a three-year run starting in 2026.
With such geographic and environmental variety, each venue will test the athletes’ adaptability, from wind and heat to venue layout and crowd energy.
2. Returning champions and challengers
Reigning champions Kim Woojin, Jiaman Li, James Lutz and Sara Lopez will face immense pressure to maintain their dominance. Expect fireworks as they return with targets on their backs.
Several other athletes have the potential to dominate this season and will be under the spotlight.
Tokyo 2020 Olympic Champion Mete Gazoz seeks to hold off rising recurve talent, riding the wave of becoming the first archer to sign with Red Bull.
Olympic and World Cup powerhouse Lim Sihyeon aims to add more gold to her glittering resume, after her hat-trick in Paris 2024, while Casey Kaufhold, the current recurve women’s world number two, looks to the top spot.
World number one Mike Schloesser and runner-up Mathias Fullerton will both aim for more success after an exceptional 2024 season.
Veterans like Lopez and Brady Ellison are also chasing more glory. The Colombian, with a record nine World Cup titles, could make it a perfect 10.
3. Can Sara make it a perfect 10?
Sara Lopez is the most successful archer in the history of the tour, having won a record ninth Hyundai Archery World Cup Champion trophy in 2024.
The next closest are Brady Ellison and Kim Woojin, each with five titles.
Lopez also leads the individual stage wins leaderboard with 12 victories, followed by Ellison and Mike Schloesser, who both have 10 each.
These stats only add to the intrigue of watching legends write new chapters.
Lopez has said she is keen to make a mark at the other big tournaments coming up this year. But she still has a shot at a historic tenth title.
Can she do it?
4. Fresh faces on the rise
The Archery World Cup has often been a stage for young archers to make a name for themselves.
The 2025 edition introduces a promising crop of young talent, especially from powerhouse nations like South Korea, India and the USA.
Watch for breakout performances from rising stars who could upset seasoned veterans.
Keep an eye on Matias Grande, a rising force from Mexico after winning the 2024 Pan American Championships title and making her Olympic debut, and a raft of Korean newcomers, as the archery giant rotates in elite talent ahead of hosting the Hyundai World Archery Championships later this year.
India is constantly developing new talent. The 23-year-old Dhiraj Bommadevara took a bronze medal on the circuit last year. Can he step up and make a breakthrough this year?
5. Road to Korea: Eyes on the world championships
With Gwangju, Korea, set to host the Hyundai World Archery Championships later in 2025, all signs point to the Korean team building serious momentum.
We'll see some familiar faces from the last two Olympic Games on the line, perhaps with some new recurve talent as well. (The Koreans don't confirm their final frontline teams until later in April).
Historically dominant in the sport, their performance throughout the World Cup season will be closely scrutinised as a precursor to their biggest event of the year.
Expect intense internal competition within Team Korea — especially with Paris 2024 still fresh — and a drive to secure victory on home turf later this season.
