“We were very lucky that we had the opportunity to do the practice round,” explained 2019 World Archery Championships team gold medallist Huang, on getting one of two first-round byes. “Also, we tried a different order, because before I always shot first, but during the practice end we decided to change.”
Chinese Taipei’s next opponents Jyothi Surekha Vennam and Rishabh Yadav were exceptionally precise too. The Indian pair shot 156 against Spain and Denmark – whose line-up included Indoor World Series Champion Tanja Gellenthien and world number two Mathias Fullerton – and then posted an incredible 159 in the semifinal against Slovenia, just one off a perfect score.
For Yadav, Saturday’s final marks a major milestone: he has yet to win an Archery World Cup medal, as he and powerhouse India build toward LA28.
“Initially, when the news was [compound] was not added, we were very disappointed, but not disheartened, because we knew we had many more events to focus on,” said the Nimes silver medallist. “But now finally, when we have the Olympic tag, we can finally get a missing medal for India.”
“We have high hopes in compound, and we hope to keep those hopes.”
In the recurve mixed team event, Paris 2024 bronze medallist Mexico will contest the gold medal match against Spain, whilst Olympic silver medallist Germany faces China.
Action continues this afternoon in Central Florida with recurve individual eliminations.
