The gold medal match in Recurve Women was between Dola Banerjee of India and
Choi Eun Young of Korea! It was Choi who was shooting first and she started with 9-9-10 (28). Banerjee was trailing behind by 1 point after the first end with 10-8-9 (27). The Korean started the second end with an 8 but went on with two 10s to keep her short lead over her opponent who scored two 9s and one 10 (56-55). The two athletes were very close to each other. They both shot 10-9-10 and the lead remained to Choi (85-84). Spectators thought it was the end of Banerjee's hopes when she shot an 8 with her tenth arrow... but Choi released a 7 at this point! The score was tied! Both continued with a 9 and it was still tied. With an 8 at the last arrow by Banerjee, Choi would need a 9 to win... She shot an 8 (!) and offered victory and the World Cup title to the Indian!
Dola Banerjee after her upset over Korean Choi Eun Young: “That is the biggest victory for me. The Koreans are always very strong. I didn’t feel very good at the start of the semi-final – my concentration was not good. But towards the end of that match I found my focus and that continued into the final. Perhaps I put too much pressure on myself in the semi-final but in the final I felt more relaxed.”
No 1 ranked in the World Natalya Erdyniyeva was facing 2007 World Cup Winner Zhang Juan Juan in this bronze medal match of this division. The Russian Erdyniyeva didn’t start well but went stronger and stronger. She also benefited from a 6 by the defending champion to clinch victory on the final score of 106-103.
Compound Women This gold medal match in Compound Women was to open the live TV coverage session. It featured the defending World Cup Winner, Sofia Goncharova from Russia and a pregnant happy lady, Petra Ericsson of Sweden. It was the Swede who shot first and she opened the match with a 9. Her opponent started with a liner, but it was a 9, as well. Ericsson went on strong with two 10s for a score of 29 out of 30. Goncharova was already trailing by 4 points (25-29). Ericsson did not want to let any point go and shot another 29-point end. She was thus leading by 7 after Goncharova shot 10-8-8 (58-51). How relaxed she seemed, the Swede! And she continued with a perfect triple 10 to reach 88 out of a possible 90, with only three arrows to go. Goncharova seemed totally out of her form on her side, and the match was clinched even before the last arrow. Petra Ericsson of Sweden was the first winner of the day and the new World Cup Winner in Compound Women on the final score of 115-105!
When we asked Petra Ericsson how expecting a baby has impacted on her archery, she answered: “It affects me a bit but it’s been ok. Fortunately the baby kept quiet and still in the final because there had been a couple of kicks in the semi-final.”
The bronze medal match in Compound Women was between the American Jamie Van Natta and the Russian Anna Kazantseva. The Russian left all hopes behind when she scored a triple 8, which is quite unusual for Compound competitors. Van Natta took advantage of this and clinched an easy victory (114-106) to win the first bronze medal of the day!
What next?
After the Panathinaiko Stadium in Athens in 2004 and the Maya Pyramids in Mexico last year, Archery has just lived another fantastic competition on a special floating platform in wonderful Dubai! The Indian Gate is already planned for New Delhi in 2008 and the bidding is opened for 2010 and 2011. Where will be the next incredible archery event!?
photos FITA
L’Inde gagne une Finale de Coupe du Monde!
Ludivine Maitre Wicki
FITA Communication
2007-11-26