Nicolas Girard topped the compound men’s qualifications but was denied besting Braden Gellenthien’s 72-arrow record in the second half at the World Archery Championships in Gwangju.
At the halfway point – after 36 arrows – both he and world number one Mike Schloesser were averaging highger than the American’s 718 but an increased wind from arrows 37 to 72 made it difficult for the Frenchman to make history.
“I’m pretty happy,” said the Indoor Archery World Series Finals runner up. “The first half was perfect, the conditions were good. The second half there was some wind, that played a role so it was a little more tricky.”
“I had a good battle with Mike for the top seed.”
It was rather apt that the two compound men archers who led the 121- athlete strong field at the Gwangju International Archery Centre were positioned alongside one another on the shooting line.
Girard, 25, was on 56C whilst the recently crowned Chengdu 2025 World Games champion Schloesser on 56D, setting the scene for a captivating tussle for seed number one.
Perhaps foreshadowing one of the medal matches – at least for 36.
Amidst already intense humidity, the unpredictably of the side-to-side wind in Korea meant that nines – and one eight for Girard – began to creep onto both scoresheets with world record holder Kim Jongho and the Central Florida 2025 – stage 1 – gold medallist Mathias Fullerton (711) entering the fray.
A new world record therefore was not to be and Gellenthien can sleep well tonight knowing that his record remains intact… for now.
For the rest of the morning session, it became a yo-yo between the four for place seed number one but banked by the 10s earlier – which totaled into 66 – it was enough for France’s Girard to reach 713 and pole for his first time this outdoor season.
“It’s true that I had it in mind but I had to put it aside, remain focused on what we are dealing. I have not succeeded this but maybe another time,” he added.
Girard’s recent resurgence outdfoors and in putting himselgf on the best side of the draw – at least statistically – does not guarantee anything however in Gwangju.
In his same bracket is Schloesser who dropped down to third with Korea’s Jongho getting only one more 10 to push into second seed – all three got 713.
It was such fine margins but the eighth end in particular was one he found particularly frustrating.
“One end back there I shot a 57 in there and it was just a stupid mistake, stupid shot as well and it just came all together.”
”One end I didn’t wanna be at. I wish I had that one back, but at the end 713, I had 11 really good ends. It’s just qualification, to get in the rhythm and I felt like I had it today.
”I’m excited for the rest of this week.”
Never satisfied, the marks of a serial winner. Let’s see if ‘Mister Perfect’ can make up for it in Sunday’s eliminations.
In compound women, Andrea Becerra did not let off on her stellar 2025 form as she poled with 712.
A hot favourite for Gwangju, that score was just one point off her personal best of 713 and looked one of the coolest on the shooting line as she casually chewed a piece of gum between shooting each arrow.
”I was not chilled, especially at the end,” the world number one laughed when asked about her fellings heading into the last end. ”I think I started to panic a little bit with the wind just not being sure where to aim exactly but with the help of my coach and looking at everyone’s arrows, it helped me a little bit, just to know where the wind was hitting.”
The compound team eliminations take place this afternoon.
Top seeds: Compound men
- Nicolas Girard, France – 713 (66 10s, 36 Xs)
- Kim Jongho, Korea – 713 (66 10s, 32 Xs)
- Mike Schloesser, Netherlands – 713 (65 10s)
Top seeds: Compound women
- Andrea Becerra, Mexico – 712
- So Chaewon, Korea – 709
- Jyothi Surekha Vennam, India – 707
