News

Becerra breaks through with maiden World Cup win in thrilling shoot-off

12 April 2025

Central Florida, USA

Real name:

Andrea Becerra ended her Hyundai Archery World Cup gold drought with a thrilling shoot-off victory, claiming the top spot at Central Florida 2025, the first stage of the year.

After falling short in two gold medal matches last year, the 24-year-old Mexican delivered a perfect arrow in the shoot-off against USA’s Olivia Dean, who herself secured a first World Cup individual medal with silver.

Becerra was one point up, 116-115, heading into the fifth and final end, but at the last hurdle could not replicate her prior end’s perfect score of 30, shooting 28 points, whilst stage debutant Dean tied the scores with a 29.

Becerra led by one point, 116-115, entering the final end but scored 28, allowing Dean to tie with a 29. Undeterred, Becerra overcame her past shoot-off loss to Jyothi Surekha Vennam in Shanghai 2024, hitting the X-ring to edge out Dean’s 10.

“It feels great,” said an emotional Becerra, who also beat compatriot and eventual bronze medallist Mariana Bernal in the semifinals. “I wanted this moment, I’ve been working towards this since qualification, and I’m so happy I get to take the gold home this time.”

“I felt like that last 10 was a bit lucky, I was just so focused in the shoot-off. I was like, ‘Okay, I’m going to shake, so I might as well shake it in the middle’. And it worked out just fine.”

This is one first major honour for Becerra, with two more major goals for the year: the World Archery Championships in Gwangju, after she came so close to being crowned champion in 2023, only losing to Aditi Gopichand Swami, and the Hyundai Archery World Cup Final in Nanjing, for which she is already qualified as a stage winner.

Sebastian Garcia (silver), Mathias Fullerton (gold) and Chen Chieh-Lun (TPE) on the podium.

With the form the Mexican showed this week, matching the hot Central Florida weather in qualifications as number one seed and now matches, she feels the result will give her the boost to triumph in all three major tournaments.

“It takes a lot of pressure off,” Becerra said. “And for sure, I’ll be taking advantage of that and keep having fun throughout the year.”

“Hopefully, at the world championships, I could do something pretty similar.”

Mathias Fullerton also achieved a career first in the afternoon session at Lake Myrtle Sports Park, which is hard to come by these days given his profligacy for success in international archery over the years.

He overcame reigning Pan American Champion Sebastian Garcia, 148-144. Fullerton, the world number two, scored three perfect ends and only two nines, just shy of a flawless 150.

“I feel like I’ve been shooting great, but my World Cup stage performances haven’t reflected that,” said the Hermosillo 2023 Hyundai Archery World Cup Final winner. “I’ve done really well at the finals, but I’ve always just missed out on stage wins, and now I feel like I’ve worked hard enough.”

“I know how I work in my mind and what to do in those high pressure situation," added the 21-year-old. “Everything clicked now and I shot good all the way through this tournament, so I couldn’t be happier.”

Competition in Central Florida concludes on Sunday with recurve finals that can be watched live on archery+.