The United States of America continued their good form of 2011 to win the London Archery Classic Men's Team event at Lord's Cricket Ground on Tuesday 4 October.

USA - who have enjoyed team success in the World Cup events in Shanghai and Ogden, USA, in recent months - beat Chinese Taipei 225-222 to take the gold medal, having earlier defeated favourites Korea in the semifinal.

World No. 1 Brady ELLISON and his USA team-mates Joe FANCHIN and Jake KAMINSKI proved too strong for the Chinese Taipei team of KUO Cheng Wei, TIEN Kang and WANG Cheng Pang, who beat China and Spain on their way to the final.

Korea had to settle for bronze despite setting their second world record in successive days. Just 24 hours after IM Dong-Hyun broke his own individual record during the Ranking Round, the Men's Team of IM, KIM Woojin and OH Jin Hyek recorded a joint score of 233, breaking the previous mark by two points, as they triumphed over Australia in the quarterfinal.

 The Koreans recovered from the disappointment of their unexpected loss to beat 14th seeds Spain 222-211 in the third-place match.

Semifinal - Korea (KOR/1)  v USA (USA/4)

Korea just came out off a new world record in their quarterfinals match versus Australia. IM Dong-Hyun, KIM Woojin and OH Jin Hyek shot a new team record during their quarterfinals this afternoon! They scored 233 points, two more than the previous record held by the Koreans since the World Championships Leipzig 2007. IM was also part of the team in Leipzig!

At often times, the match following a world record is tough one. This one proved to be no different, even for the Koreans. They started with a low end of 52 points and could only improve to 54, 54 and 56 in the following ends. On the opposite side ELLISON/FANCHIN/KAMINSKI started with three ends of 56. They did not give in anything in the last end with a 55. The USA upset the No. 1 seed and world record holder Korea, 222-216!

Semifinal - Chinese Taipei (TPE/7) v Spain (ESP/14)

Spain and Chinese Taipei were two surprising teams at this stage of the competition. Chinese Taipei did bring a lot off experience with KUO Cheng Wei and WANG Cheng Pang. The latter won a team silver medal at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. The team was completed by the young TIEN Kang. Spain had three promising archers who have progressively developed in the recent years: Elias CUESTA, Antonio FERNANDEZ and Andres GOMEZ. Seeded No. 14, Spain upset the No. 3 Mexico then the No. 6 Malaysia in previous rounds. Chinese Taipei, seeded No. 7 defeated the No. 2 France in the quarterfinal.  

The match between the two teams was really tight! Spain led 54-53, then 111-109. Chinese Taipei tied it at 164-164. Chinese Taipei finished with an impressive 9-10-10-10-10-9 (58), while Spain could only do 8-10-10-7-10-8 (53). Victory for Chinese Taipei, 222-217.

Bronze - Korea (KOR/1) v Spain (ESP/14)

The No. 1 seed Korea just proved to be too much for the No. 14 seed Spain. The Koreans dominated the match as the scored evolved from 56-51, 110-105, 167-159 to 222-211. Bronze medal for Korea at the London Archery Classic!

Gold - USA (USA/4) v Chinese Taipei (TPE/7)

Chinese Taipei shot well during this first final of the London Archery Classic! They were almost all the time in the yellow (9 or 10) to shoot ends of 55, 54, 56 and 57.

The problem for Chinese Taipei was that the USA shot brilliantly! The USA started with three ends of 57. They led 171-165 after 18 arrows. Then they shot 9-9-10-9 and finally left the yellow, with a 7! Still they needed an 8 to win the match with their last arrow. They shot a 9 to win gold, 224-222!

On Wednesday (5 October), the women's team event takes centre stage, beginning with the 1/16 elimination matches from and culminating in the gold medal match.

LOCOG / World Archery Communication