“It’s true that I had it in mind, but I had to put it aside and remain focused on what we were dealing with. I didn’t succeed this time, but maybe another,” Girard said.
Girard’s recent resurgence outdoors and his place at the top of the draw – at least statistically – does not guarantee anything in Gwangju.
In his half of the bracket is Schloesser, who dropped to third as Korea’s Jongho edged into second with one more 10. All three finished on 713.
The margins were razor-thin, but the eighth end was particularly frustrating for the Dutchman.
“One end back there I shot a 57. It was just a stupid mistake, a stupid shot as well, and it just came all together.”
“One end I didn’t want to be at. I wish I had that one back. But in the end, 713 – I had 11 really good ends. It’s just qualification, to get into rhythm, and I felt like I had it today.”
”I’m excited for the rest of this week,” Schloesser concluded.
Never satisfied – the mark of a serial winner. ‘Mister Perfect’ will look to make up for it in Sunday’s eliminations.
In the compound women’s event, Andrea Becerra continued her stellar 2025 form by taking pole with 712.
A hot favourite in Gwangju, the world number one was just one point shy of her career-best 713. She looked the picture of calm on the shooting line, casually chewing gum between arrows.
“I was not chilled, especially at the end,” Becerra laughed when asked about her feelings heading into the last end. I think I started to panic a little 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.
