Germany delighted a home crowd with women’s team gold in Berlin while Korea clinched men’s and mixed team victories in a thrilling afternoon at the 2023 Hyundai World Archery Championships.
Katharina Bauer, Michelle Kroppen and Charline Schwarz beat France’s Caroline Lopez, Lisa Barbelin, and Audrey Adiceom in the gold medal match after overcoming Mexico 6-0 in the semifinal.
All three nations also booked three Olympic quota spots each for Paris 2024, after Mexican trio Alejandra Valencia, Aida Roman, and Angela Ruiz beat the Netherlands to the bronze medal.
They will be joined by Korea, Türkiye , and Japan who took the medals in the men’s team event, with Korea edging Türkiye in the gold medal match after Japan beat Italy to the bronze.
With a backdrop of the iconic Olympiastadion, the finals stage in Berlin was blessed with a raucous atmosphere generated by home fans, something the archers revealed made a big difference.
“I don’t think anything can be better than becoming world champion in Berlin,” said Kroppen. “We don’t have the Olympics in Germany at the moment, that could be even better, but for now this is the highest we can reach. With the home crowd it is unbelievable.”
“We really felt the crowd,” added Schwarz. “We took the happiness and support and put up some really good strong shots. We were really happy for all the support that we got.”
Elsewhere, Kim Woojin responded to a surprise exit in the individual competition with two recurve golds as Korea retained its titles in the recurve men’s and mixed events.
Kim, Kim Je Deok and Lee Woo Seok assumed their dominance on the world stage with a 6-2 win over Türkiye in the recurve men’s team final, while Kim teamed up with Lim Sihyeon to earn his second gold of the day just an hour later.
Korea have now won the gold medal in the men’s team event 12 times, starting in Seoul in 1985.
“We were able to do exactly what we wanted to do here,” said Kim Woojin. “We are going to do our best at the Paris Olympics and get to the highest point we can.”
Türkiye battled from 4-0 down in the semi-final against Italy to win 6-4 and seal an Olympic quota spot despite missing out on the gold in the recurve men’s.
Reigning individual Olympic champion Mete Gazoz is more determined than ever after sealing his country’s first-ever men’s team World Archery Championships medal and booking a place in Paris.
“I am happy because we have got the quota place but a little bit disappointed because we lost,” he said.
“I didn’t start that good but it is okay because we have got the quota place; we are super happy. It is the first men’s team world championships medal.”
“I am proud of my team because they never gave up, always listened to me, they were brave. I love my teammates. I am super happy because I have two super teammates.”
“I will win the gold medal [in Paris]. Nobody has won two golds in a row in archery and I want to be the first.”
Japan took the third quota spot with their 6-2 bronze medal win over Italy after being knocked out in a semi-final shootout by Turkiye.
“It is not only three people, this is for everyone in Japan and all Japanese archers,” said Takaharu Furukawa. “We have a good ability to shoot at world level, and we are so happy we could show that.”
Korea also clinched mixed team gold as Kim earned his second gold of the day alongside Lim, denying home hero Kroppen the same feat.
Kim and Lim beat Kroppen and Florian Unruh 5-1 but the German pair took the positives from a silver medal showing in front of a home crowd.
“I feel happy and I think Michelle too,” Unruh said. “The Koreans shot a little bit stronger than us. The sun was a little bit difficult. Really nice atmosphere from the stadium and yeah, it was nice. “
“In my opinion, Korea is one of the least nerve-wracking opponents, because you can’t expect to win so you just do your best and more likely you will loose, but there’s still a possibility and in my opinion, that’s really good for the nerves.”
Source : wordartcery