Iran takes statement win over USA compound men

Already, one end in, Iran had a four point advantage over the USA in the headline match on the morning of compound Saturday in Shanghai.

Iran had come out of the gates fast, shooting 59 in the first six arrows.

Across on the line, the USA trio of Steve Anderson, Alex Wifler and Reo Wilde – in shooting order – were not so on point. An eight didn’t help.

Down, but not out, the States group kept themselves in it, trading away another point advantage in the second end but claiming it back in the third.

Still, four down at the start of the final regulation end, the USA team watched Iran’s Esmaeil Ebadi post a seven – and jumped into action. A perfect-30 to finish brought the match much closer than it ever should have been.

Iran responded.

Two 10s, from Omid Taheri and Majid Gheidi, took the pressure off the last man. Ebadi, who’s been successful in the anchor spot for Iran, stepped up to the plate and delivered what was needed. Nine points and a 229-228 gold-medal win for Iran.

“There was some wind and in the arena it might have blown me off a little bit,” said 2014 Asian Games winner Ebadi. It was still enough.

“This isn’t the first time we have taken gold,” said Gheidi. “But it is the first time we have beaten the USA. That’s a big achievement.”

This has all the feelings of a statement win for Iran, though the trio already proved they were not to be underestimated with the win at the World Archery Championships in Copenhagen in 2015.

At that event, a mishap with scorecards caused the USA squad to fall out of a qualification position needed to advance to the matchplay. Iran went all the way, but didn’t have that clash with the States to cement the team’s status.

In Shanghai, Ebadi, Gheidi and Taheri got the match they wanted, and they came out on top.

“We want to stay on top for a long time,” said Taheri. “We have a great relationship, the three of us, and it’s a team that thinks it can win, all the time, every time.”

IR Iran beats USA, 229-228.

Shoot-off #1

Russia overcame an early six from Natalia Avdeeva to force a shoot-off with Denmark in the compound women’s gold final. Avdeeva put down the wayward arrow with her first shot of the match, but kept the rest of her arrows in the gold.

That coupled with seven of lead archer Mariia Vinogradova’s eight regulation arrows landing in he 10 helped the Russians recover.

In the tiebreaker, both teams’ first arrows were 10-9.

Vinogradova finished with a nine. It wasn’t enough. A last arrow from individual finalist Sarah Sonnichsen landed centre, and took a match the Danes had been leading comfortably, before faltering, in the last.

Erika Anear, Denmark’s middle shooter, hadn’t realised what had happened: “I thought we still had three arrows left!”

Denmark beats Russia, 29-28 in a shoot-off.

Shoot-off #2

“It’s not so often you come to a shoot-off in a team match,” said Australia’s Brice Scott. “It was tough with the pressure, but it came in our favour.”

After taking a two-point lead in the first end, Australia went two points down at halfway in the compound men’s bronze medal match. Only a late surge, in the last end, brought things up to a draw when France had a series of nines.

Seb Peineau put in an unusual eight to start the shoot-off, then the following two French arrows joined his, low and left, but in the nine.

Australia shot a smooth 9-9-10, and took the podium spot, 28-26.

Australia beats France, 28-26 in a shoot-off.

Shoot-off #3

The German and Turkish squads went to a tiebreaker in the compound women’s bronze final. After drawing at 226-apiece, Germany’s Kristina Heigenhauser – who won the worlds in 2013 – opened the shoot-off with a wild seven.

Despite the advantage, Germany totalled 25 and Turkey had 17 after two.

Yesim Bostan, stepping to the line to shoot last, needed a nine to take the match. The 20-year-old delivered a perfect 10, and Turkey took bronze.

Turkey beats Germany, 27-25 in a shoot-off.