This Monday, the archers of the French team will take part in the first stage of the Hyundai Archery World Cup in Antalya. The competition, which will take place from April 18 to 24, marks the first stage of an edition full of promise at the end of an Olympic year.
6 months after the finals in Yankton (USA), it is time for the world’s best archers to meet for the first round of this 16th edition of the competition. A total of 340 athletes from 47 different countries are expected in Turkey, and it goes without saying that the competition promises to be fierce with the return of the greatest archery champions.
The Return of the Global Elite
In recurve men, Brady Ellison (USA) and Mete Gazoz (TUR), respectively 1is et 2th in the world rankings, will have all eyes on them during this already decisive first stage. Will the Turkish Olympic Champion manage to win in his native country?
With the absence of Korean triple Olympic medalist An San on this round and the non-selection of Deepika Kumari in the Indian team, Lisa Barbelin (FRA) has every chance and is one of the favorites in recurve women for this stage in Antalya, a city that has done well for him in the past.
In men’s compound, Mike Schloesser (NED), gold medalist in last year’s finals in Yankton (USA) and world number 1 is one to watch closely and promises to give his competitors a hard time. On the side of the women’s compound bow, the French team, currently 3th in the world rankings, has a real shot to play in a land that is not unknown to him.
« I can’t wait to get back to the World Cup! I have very good memories of Antalya, where we won the title of European team champions. It’s a city that I really like, I even beat my personal best there in qualifying. This year, Sandra Hervé joins the team, we were in the same club for 3 years (Draveil Sénart), we know each other well and are used to shooting together. I think we have our chances. I’m in a very good momentum at the moment, I’m shooting well in training and I feel good. I will do everything to do much better than last year! »
– Lola Grandjean (Saint Avertin)
French archers in the running
Here are the archers selected to take part in this first stage of the World Cup:
recurve bow men
Jean-Charles Valladont (Nîmes)
Pierre Plihon (Nimes)
Thomas Chirault (Clermont)
recurve bow women
Lisa Barbelin (Riom)
Audrey Adiceom (Riom)
Melanie Gaubil (Nîmes)
Men’s Compound Bow
Jean-Philippe Boulch (Rueil Malmaison)
Adrien Gontier (Alley on Touvre)
Quentin Baraer (Rennes)
Women’s Compound Bow
Sophie Dodémont (Fontenay s/s Bois)
Lola Grandjean (Saint Avertin)
Sandra Herve (Draveil Senart)
The program
Tuesday April 19: Compound qualifications
Wednesday April 20: Recurve bow qualifications
Thursday April 21: Compound individual matches
Friday 22 April: Individual recurve matches
Saturday April 23: Compound Finals
Sunday April 24: Recurve Finals
