Compound Team Finals Set as Baptiste Addis Dominates Recurve Qualifications in Puebla

The opening stage of the 2026 archery World Cup in Puebla, Mexico, has delivered immediate drama and clear favorites as the competition moves into its critical knockout phases. While the compound division has already locked in its gold-medal matchups, the recurve ranking round has signaled the arrival of a dominant force in the young Frenchman Baptiste Addis.

In a week characterized by challenging wind conditions that tested the nerves of every athlete on the line, the compound team events have provided the first definitive results of the season. The battle for supremacy in the compound division has narrowed down to a handful of nations, with Mexico securing a strong presence on the podium despite missing out on the top spot.

Compound Men: Turkey and Colombia Clash for Gold

The men’s compound team competition has reached its climax, with Turkey and Colombia advancing to the final. Both nations navigated a high-pressure semifinal round to earn their place in the championship match. Turkey secured their spot by defeating Mexico, while Colombia overcame Denmark to move forward.

Mexico, however, did not leave the tournament empty-handed. The host nation managed to secure the bronze medal after winning a tense spareggio (shoot-off) against Denmark, ensuring they finish the team event on the podium.

Compound Women: India and USA Set for Decisive Match

On the women’s side, India enters the final as the team to beat. The Indian squad demonstrated clinical precision throughout the early stages, claiming the best absolute score in the ranking round before fighting their way through the bracket.

They will face the United States of America in the gold-medal match. The U.S. Team narrowly edged out Mexico in the semifinals with a tight 230-229 victory. Mexico, mirroring the success of their male counterparts, secured the third-place spot by defeating Turkey 233-230 in the consolation final.

Baptiste Addis Sets the Pace in Recurve

While the compound teams settled their brackets, the recurve ranking round highlighted the exceptional form of 19-year-old Baptiste Addis. The French talent, who earned a team silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, topped the men’s field to become the first seed for the event.

Addis posted a score of 674 over 72 arrows, a performance that echoes his strong start to the 2025 season when he likewise topped the field at the first stage in Central Florida. Despite the warm winds in Puebla, Addis remained composed, dropping only three points compared to his Florida mark from a year prior.

Speaking on his approach to the new season, Addis emphasized a focus on personal growth over rankings. “I don’t want to be first seed, I don’t want to win the first competition. It’s just to focus on my skill and try to develop in every competition,” Addis said. He noted that his preparation involved hard winter training, though the expanded Indoor World Series and the late timing of The Vegas Shoot in March shortened the window for outdoor-specific training for many athletes.

In the women’s recurve ranking round, China’s Zhu Jingyu claimed the top spot, positioning herself as a primary contender as the tournament shifts toward the elimination rounds.

Italy Opts for Strategic Absence

Notably absent from the Puebla stage is the Italian national team. Italy has chosen to skip this first World Cup stop—and may potentially miss the second stage in Shanghai, scheduled for May 5-10—to prioritize a rigorous training block.

The Italian squad is focusing its efforts on the upcoming European Championships in Antalya, Turkey, taking place from May 19 to 24. This event is particularly high-stakes as it serves as a qualifying tournament for the European Games 2027.

What’s Next in Puebla

The competition in Mexico continues with a packed schedule. The next phase of the tournament will feature the elimination rounds for the compound Mixed Team and all recurve team events.

For those following the individual brackets, the compound division has already aligned its matchups for the round of 32, setting the stage for high-intensity head-to-head archery.

For further updates on the 2026 circuit, follow the official reports from World Archery and OA Sport.

Do you think the young Baptiste Addis can maintain this momentum through the knockout stages? Let us realize your predictions in the comments below.