SHANGHAI, China – With archers battling testing conditions inside the Yuanshen Sports Center Stadium on day two of the World Cup Stage 2, it was the USA’s Brady Ellison who emerged as the top qualifier in the recurve men’s division.
Ellison donned his waterproofs as the rain fell to shoot 670 on Wednesday, one more than Marcus D’Almeida of Brazil. The recently crowned 2023 Gator Cup champion will begin the elimination rounds on Friday against Britain’s Alex Wise.
“In conditions like these, it’s about shooting the best shot you can and adjust quickly,” said Ellison. “I made a few mistakes at the end but otherwise, it was great.”
An indicator as to how tough conditions were in Shanghai is that Frenchman Jean-Charles Valladont could only muster 643 in qualification to finish 32nd out of the 64 that progress. He picked up silver at the World Cup Stage 1 event in Turkey last month. Dhiraj Bommadevara (656) was the bronze medalist on that occasion and had to settle for 13th in qualifying in China. Ellison would face Valladont in the round of 16 if both come through their first elimination encounter.
Day three of the event will involve the elimination rounds of the compound division, which include Kris Schaff against Mohammed Madandar of Iran.
Qualification and elimination rounds are staged in the Yuanshen Sports Center Stadium, with the finals being played out on the Lujiazui Riverside Promenade.
There are four World Cup stages, before the final in Mexico in September. As well as Turkey and China, there are also stages in Colombia and France.
Stage 3: Medellin, Colombia – June 13-18
Stage 4: Paris, France – August 15-20
Final: Hermosillo, Mexico – September 9-10
