Nanjing is the climax of this year’s Archery World Cup, but it is the first time this year we’ve seen Chinese compound archers on the international premier circuit.
Zhang Xinyan (front row, left) and Ding Yiliang (back row, left) did not feature in Central Florida, Shanghai, Antalya, or Madrid, and neither did any of their compound compatriots, but they find themselves in the 2025 World Cup Final representing China – as is normal, the host nation has one automatic pick in all four events.
In compound circles, Zhang and Ding are unknowns, but in recurve both have history at the very top level of the sport. Both shot for China internationally and have only crossed disciplines recently.
Extremely recently. “Having trained in compound archery for just over three months, there’s still much room for improvement,” said ’s-Hertogenbosch 2019 Hyundai World Archery Championships recurve men’s team gold medallist Ding. “I’m determined to give it my all throughout the process. Regardless of the outcome, I’ll keep striving toward my goal.”
That goal is the LA28 Olympic Games, following the announcement in April that mixed team is a part of the Olympic programme in the next Games. Similarly, it’s what triggered Zhang also to switch.
“The sudden outbreak of the pandemic disrupted the Tokyo cycle of international competitions, so I did not participate in subsequent events,” she said. “The inclusion of compound archery in the Olympics presented an opportunity, and I also wanted to try a different bow type, launching a new challenge for myself.”
The 30-year-old Zhang’s career peaked at an astonishing high: she won individual gold at the 2018 Asian Games – one of just three non-Korean winners of the competition since 1978.
Both had to go through an arduous selection process to represent China, in a country that has over one billion people. The effectiveness however of Zhang and Ding’s transition really will be tested on the stage in the plaza next to Nanjing Olympic Museum, where Zhang will face Ella Gibson and Ding will face Mike Schloesser in the first round respectively.
