Prediction
Two stage winners this year, Lim Sihyeon and Lee Gahyun, both from Korea, did not take up their invitations for the final, which opened the door for An San to represent Korean interests.
The two top seeds, Kang and Li, will be in opposite halves of the draw and it is very easy to see a final between the two of them: the reigning World Champion and reigning World Cup Final champion respectively. For Kang, it would be her third title after wins at Moscow 2019 and Hermosillo 2023, and her arrow average this season is the highest of all recurvers in Nanjing – including all the men.
But Li is not the only Chinese threat, in the only category where the host nation have a real chance at the title. Zhu Jingyi, who pushed Kang all the way in the final of Gwangju 2025, is clearly in some form too given her World Championship performance.
A win from either Li or Zhu would send a huge message that the Chinese recurve machine is capable of causing huge damage. In this Asian-focused international year, is this finally the moment where a shift in power starts? It’s a big stretch. But impossible? Definitely not. China’s women came close – incredibly close – in Paris to upsetting the biggest apple cart of all: women’s team.
Everyone on the bill is capable of making the final at least. And Kang is likely the bookies’ favourite. But I think the host nation will take this one down.
