French archer Jean-Charles Valladont secured a fourth-place finish at the Hyundai Archery World Cup Final in Saltillo, Mexico, rounding off a remarkable late-season campaign that saw him battle through the world’s elite after entering the tournament as a last-minute replacement.
Competing on Sunday, September 13, the 37-year-old and representative of the Arc Club de Nîmes marked his third career appearance at the prestigious season-ending event, having previously featured in 2015 and 2017, according to regional reporting from Midi Libre. Valladont earned his spot in the elite bracket only after the withdrawal of three Asian competitors created unexpected openings in the field.
The French competitor wasted no time making his presence felt in Mexico, orchestrating a major upset in the quarter-finals against American standout Brady Ellison. Facing a six-time champion and the reigning titleholder, Valladont navigated a tense, back-and-forth duel that hung in the balance through the opening frames. When the fifth and final set finished in another 29-29 tie, Valladont walked away with a 6-4 victory over the multi-time champion.
The Nîmes athlete slipped into an early hole after landing two arrows in the eight-ring, allowing his opponent to claim the opening frame 28-25. Though Valladont split the second set at 28-28, a stray seven-point arrow at the start of the third allowed Bommadevara to pull away further. Despite a resilient 28-point effort in the fourth, the Indian competitor closed out the match with a ten-point shot to seal a 7-1 victory, ultimately advancing to win the tournament in a shoot-off against Japan’s Junya Nakanishi.
Relegated to the bronze-medal match, Valladont met Turkey’s Mete Gazoz, the world No. 4 and reigning Olympic champion from the Tokyo Games. Gazoz proved too formidable on the day, stringing together three consecutive 29-point volées. Valladont managed scores of 25, 28, and 28, ultimately falling 6-0 to finish just off the podium in fourth place.
The fourth-place finish concludes another chapter in Valladont’s enduring career at the sport’s highest level. Archery enthusiasts and competitors now look toward the upcoming international calendar to see how the French veteran prepares for the next global circuit stops.
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