Who knows whether that will change with compound gearing up for its Olympic debut at LA28 but one thing that is for certain is 2013 World champion Schloesser is going to need the right dance partner to add the ultimate prize of Games gold in his already illustrious career.
A win against in form India on De Laat’s return is a step in the right direction, and securing a perfect 40 in the third end against a strong wind in Spain shows there is mettle this team.
“It feels really good [to beat India], but I think just the fact that you know you’re in the gold final feels above whatever team you’re winning against,” humbly added De Laat.
Should Netherlands succeed in Saturday’s compound final, it will be a giant leap to LA28.
They will have to get through Korea’s Choi Yonghee and So Chaewon first.
Normally associated by their dominance in recurve, Korea are overall having a sterling week in compound.
The men’s and women’s teams are shooting for golds tomorrow and Antalya – the third stage of the 2025 World Cup – silver medallist Han Seungyeon is in the compound women’s final four.
They already have four podium finishes from individual and team events at Shanghai and Antalya and now they are guaranteed one in the mixed team but Asian Games runner-up Chaewon revealed their semifinal victory against El Salvador [150-149] was not easy.
“Today it was a really strong wind even I could feel it so that was the hard point but we talked a lot about where it’s going,” added So on the south westerly breeze. “I think that worked for us and some luck followed us too.”
In recurve mixed team, Paris 2024 Olympic gold medallists Korea are facing USA on Sunday for gold, whilst it’s Chinese Taipei versus France in the bronze medal match.
Competition continues this evening in Madrid with recurve individual eliminations.
