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Kaufhold and Healey make emotional return to final four after two years

11 April 2025

Central Florida, USA

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Emotions ran high on day four of the Hyundai Archery World Cup in Central Florida as Casey Kaufhold and Penny Healey secured their spots in the recurve women’s semifinals.

Neither athlete had featured in an individual semifinal on archery’s premier international circuit since 2023, and coming back after a year away from competing on stages, brought tears out of both.

For Kaufhold, the 2025 Indoor Archery World Series Finals Champion, the achievement was particularly special on home soil.

“It means so much to start a season off like this,” she said, surrounded by cheers from friends and family at the Lake Myrtle Sports Complex. “It feels really good to do it on home soil, it feels even better to be here and have my family here.”

The American archer’s support included her parents, coach and teammates.

“It’s really great to have one big archery family watching.”

Healey, the under-18 world record holder, also experienced the same level of emotional outburst and for good reason.

“I’ve had a really tough year the past 2023/2024 and through the Games,” the British archer admitted. “So I think to come back on this is really good for me.”

The 20-year-old sprung into the upper echelons of the sport when she won the 2022 Indoor World Series Finals at just 17, but before Nimes this January, where she claimed gold, hadn’t secured an individual medal since the Krakow-Malopolska 2023 European Games – a 19-month podium drought.

Penny Healey back to final four at Central Florida 2025.

“Today, I think I just have so much more confidence than I did last year,” said Healey, who was so excited she swore out loud at the target after discovering the winning shot against Elia Canales.

“I had more confidence that my shot would be strong. I’ve got confidence in my equipment and I’m really happy with the place I am in right now.”

Healey will be looking to end her Hyundai Archery World Cup medal drought, which dates back to Antalya 2023, against defending circuit champion Li Jiaman in the semifinals on Sunday. Kaufhold will be up against Paris 2024 mixed team bronze medallist Alejandra Valencia.

In the recurve men’s division, Dhiraj Bommadevara advanced to his fourth World Cup individual final four – securing a second finals appearance in Central Florida this weekend – after defeating number three seed Thomas Chirault 6-4, dropping three 29s in a row.

“If I carry my flag, I’m so lucky, but when I see anybody carry our flag forward, no matter if it’s recurve, compound, I’m really happy,” said the 23-year-old Indian archer. “I just want to be part of that forwardness.”

Bommadevara will face Olympic silver medallist Florian Unruh, whilst Andres Temiño will look to kick off his 2025 season as he did a year ago when he won gold in Shanghai. The Spaniard will compete against regining World Archery Champion Mete Gazoz, who beat all- time-great Brady Ellison 6-4 enroute to the final four.

Action in Central Florida continues with compound finals on Saturday.