From September 6 to 12, South Korea welcomed the world archery championships. An extraordinary edition, organized in the cradle of the discipline, where the French team will try to confirm its progression and to shake up the hierarchy.
One year after the Paris Games, the French team finds a major meeting, this time in South Korea, a recognized stronghold of world archery. If no quantified objective in terms of medals have been set, the tricolor chances are however real as the competition approaches. For the Blues, the stake will be double: manage this fervor and confirm the progress noted from Paris. A key step in the construction of a group that already targets further: the 2026 Worlds and the road to Los Angeles 2028.
The Blues expected in classic arc
It is with a certain confidence that the Habs appear in Gwangju. Olympic vice-champions in Paris, the men of the classic arc arrive with a solid collective, now classified in the world. Jean-Charles Valladont, Baptiste Addis and Thomas Chirault come out of a remarkable season, punctuated by three podiums, including a prestigious victory during the World Cup in Madrid against the Koreans. A performance that necessarily feeds ambitions.
Individual, Addis and Chirault, classified among the ten best in the world, are among the credible outsiders. Addis, in particular, has risen several times in the last square this season and dreams of concluding with a world medal. On the female side, Lisa Barbelin will try to regain her best level after an irregular summer, while Amélie Cordeau and Victoria Sebastian continue their learning at the highest level.
Ambitions also in pulleys
If the classic attracts looks, the French delegation also relies on its specialists in the Arc à Poulies. The men have regained regularity this season with a collective silver medal in Madrid. Nicolas Girard, in full ascent, embodies this dynamic: winner in Antalya then third in Madrid, he arrives in Korea with renewed confidence and the desire to win his first world medal.
Among women, the group, fully recomposed, experiences a transition phase. Léa Girault, Chloé Leroy and Amber Puiseux discover the intensity of a world championship. More than a podium objective, it is experience that will guide their competition, with the desire to register over time.
An extraordinary framework
For all, the challenge goes beyond the sports field: South Korea, crowned with five Olympic titles out of five possible in Paris in 2024, welcomed its world championships as a national event. The Blues therefore expect a unique atmosphere: “Not everyone realizes the extent of archery in Korea […] I think it’s going to be grandiose”, Estimates Jean-Charles Valladont.
In this context, the tricolor archers know that it will be necessary to find the right balance between immersing itself from the atmosphere and staying focused on performance: “We will have to get into this event, becoming aware of the magnitude it can have, but not get lost either”concludes Valladont, with his first experience on site 16 years ago.
World Cup Program
Saturday, September 6: Qualifications and Arc in Poulies
Sunday, September 7: team finals and mixed arc in Poulies teams
Monday, September 8: Arc finals with poulies women
Tuesday September 9: Classical arc qualifications / Arc finals with pulleys men
Wednesday September 10: team finals and mixed teams
Thursday, September 11: classic arc finals women
Friday September 12: ARC CLASSIC MEN finals
Composition of the French team
Classic arc women: Lisa Barbelin, Amélie Cordeau, Victoria Sebastian
Classic arc Men: Baptiste Addis, Thomas Chirault, Jean-Charles Valladont
Arc à Poulies Women: Léa Girault, Chloé Leroy, Amber Puiseux
Arc à Poulies Men: Jean-Philippe Boulch, François Dubois, Nicolas Girard
Match Jade Delattre-Buest and Matthieu Chaperon
