Heat, Precision, and Gold: Matteo Borsani and Denisa Barankova Claim World Games Recurve Titles in Chengdu

The heat in Chengdu was oppressive, with temperatures pushing 37°C in the shade, but the focus on the archery range was absolute. On a windless afternoon that tested the mental fortitude of every athlete present, Italy’s Matteo Borsani and Slovakia’s Denisa Barankova rose above the humidity to secure their first-ever World Games recurve titles during the Chengdu 2025 championships.

For Borsani, the victory was a clinical validation of his status as the tournament’s top men’s seed. For Barankova, it was the crowning achievement of a career that has seen her knock on the door of major titles for years. Together, they navigated a high-pressure finals day on August 13, 2025, to stand atop the podium in China.

Borsani’s Path to Gold

Matteo Borsani entered the competition with a target on his back. As the top seed in the men’s recurve division, expectations were high, but the World Games are notorious for the volatility of their match-play format. Borsani didn’t let the pressure—or the stifling heat—get to him.

His journey to the gold medal was defined by consistency. While other competitors struggled with the physical toll of the 37°C weather, Borsani remained composed through the qualification rounds and the subsequent knockout stages. By the time he reached the final, he had established a rhythm that few could match, securing the gold and cementing his place as one of the premier field archers in the world.

The win represents a significant milestone for Italian archery, adding to a legacy of precision and technical mastery. Borsani’s ability to maintain his form under the specific environmental stressors of Chengdu proved to be the deciding factor in his gold-medal run.

Barankova’s Breakthrough in the Women’s Final

While Borsani’s victory was a steady climb, Denisa Barankova’s path to gold was a dramatic narrative of resilience. The 23-year-old Slovakian entered the event as the second seed, but the women’s bracket was fraught with early upsets.

The tournament’s favorite and top seed, Elisa Tartler, was eliminated in the opening match by defending champion Chiara Rebagliati. The encounter was a gritty, low-scoring affair that required a shoot-off at the final target to decide the winner, with Rebagliati ultimately prevailing.

Barankova faced her own scare in the semi-finals against Italy’s Roberta Di Francesco. Trailing by two points heading into the final target, Barankova produced a clutch sequence of six, five, and six. Di Francesco struggled to respond, firing a triple four, which allowed Barankova to win 59-56 and punch her ticket to the final.

In the gold medal match, Barankova’s confidence was the story. Facing Rebagliati, who appeared inconsistent after her emotional semi-final win, Barankova took control from the first arrow. Despite a late rally from the Italian on the final 50-metre target, Barankova held her nerve to secure her first World Games gold.

“really believe it right now, but the feeling is nice,” said the 23-year-old Barankova. “When we were coming to China, I was like ‘I really want that medal’. I was just trying to stay focused and in the moment, which helped a lot.”

The Technical Grind: 37°C and 50 Metres

To the casual observer, archery is a game of stillness. To the athlete, it is a battle against physiology. In Chengdu, the lack of wind removed one of the primary variables archers usually calculate, but it replaced it with extreme thermal stress.

At 37°C, muscle fatigue sets in faster, and the mental clarity required to execute a perfect release can waver. The recurve event, particularly at the 50-metre distance, demands absolute stability. Any slight tremor caused by heat exhaustion or anxiety is magnified over that distance.

Barankova’s victory is particularly impressive given her history. A multiple medalist in indoor competitions and a two-time runner-up at the European Field Championships, she had often come close to the top step. The Chengdu victory marks a transition from a “consistent contender” to a world champion.

Italy’s Strong Showing

Although the gold medals were split between Italy and Slovakia, the Italian contingent left Chengdu with a sense of accomplishment. With Matteo Borsani taking the men’s gold and Chiara Rebagliati securing the silver in the women’s event, Italy demonstrated a deep bench of talent in the recurve discipline.

The “en plein” (sweep/perfect performance) mentioned in local reports reflects the overall dominance of the Italian squad across the various phases of the tournament, proving their system of training for field archery is currently among the best in the world.

Key Tournament Results: Recurve Finals

What This Means for the Sport

The World Games serve as a critical bridge between the Olympic cycle and the specialized world of field archery. For athletes like Borsani and Barankova, these titles provide a psychological edge and a boost in world rankings that carry over into the World Archery circuit.

Barankova’s win, in particular, signals a shift in the women’s recurve landscape. Her ability to perform under the highest pressure—specifically the comeback in the semi-finals—suggests she has developed the mental toughness necessary to dominate the sport for years to come.

For Borsani, the gold medal confirms his status as a leader in the men’s field. His ability to maintain the top seed’s expectations while executing under extreme weather conditions marks him as a technician of the highest order.

As the archery world looks toward the next major championships, the results from Chengdu will be analyzed as a blueprint for managing environmental stress and match-play psychology.

The next confirmed checkpoint for these athletes will be the upcoming World Archery season updates and the qualification cycles for future international championships. Stay tuned to Archysport for updated rankings and athlete profiles.

Do you think the extreme heat in Chengdu played a larger role in the upsets we saw in the women’s bracket? Let us know in the comments below.