Belgian Archery’s Jarno De Smedt Places 21st at Antalya World Cup Stage
Belgian archer Jarno De Smedt finished 21st and Dutch competitor Feel Stinkens placed 27th in the men’s recurve individual event at the World Archery World Cup stage in Antalya, Turkey, on April 22, 2023, according to official competition records. The results mark a mixed performance for the two athletes in the classical archery format, which emphasizes traditional recurve bows over compound equipment.
The event, held at the Antalya Park Shooting Range, featured 128 competitors from 42 nations. De Smedt, ranked 15th in the world by World Archery, scored 634 points in the ranking round, while Stinkens, ranked 29th, posted 618 points. Both athletes advanced to the elimination rounds but were eliminated in the 32nd and 16th positions, respectively, according to the tournament’s official website.
Antalya Stage Context and Significance
The Antalya World Cup stage is part of the 2023 World Archery World Cup circuit, which serves as a key qualifier for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The competition format includes a ranking round followed by a direct elimination bracket. Athletes earn World Ranking points based on their performance, with the top 64 in each division advancing to the knockout stages.
Antalya, a coastal city in southern Turkey, hosted the event for the first time. The venue, located in a public park, features 12 shooting lanes with targets set at 70 meters, the standard distance for men’s recurve competitions. Local organizers reported attendance of over 5,000 spectators on the final day, with temperatures reaching 22°C (71.6°F) during the competition.
De Smedt and Stinkens’ Performances
De Smedt, 24, entered the Antalya stage fresh off a silver medal at the 2022 European Championships. His ranking round score of 634 points placed him 21st among 128 competitors, with a final score of 115-114 in the 32nd-place match against Turkey’s Emre Vatansever. The Belgian archer struggled with consistency, missing several key shots in the elimination rounds.
Stinkens, 26, competed in his third World Cup event of the season. His 618-point ranking round placed him 27th, with a 14-12 victory over Spain’s Pablo Acha in the 16th-place match. The Dutch archer’s performance mirrored his previous World Cup appearances, where he has shown strong technical skills but occasional lapses in focus under pressure.
Key Competitors and Records
The men’s recurve competition was won by Italy’s Alessio D’Amico, who set a new world record in the ranking round with 704 points. D’Amico, the 2022 World Champion, went on to defeat South Korea’s Kim Woo-jin in the final, 7-5, securing his first World Cup title of the season.
Other notable performances included South Korea’s Kim Woo-jin (silver) and Turkey’s Mert Yılmaz (bronze). The top 10 finishers earned automatic qualification for the 2023 World Archery Championships in Berlin, Germany, later that year.
Impact on World Rankings
The Antalya results contributed to the athletes’ World Archery rankings, which are critical for Olympic qualification. De Smedt’s 21st-place finish earned him 500 points, boosting his overall ranking to 14th. Stinkens’ 27th-place finish added 400 points, moving him to 28th in the world rankings.
World Archery’s ranking system awards points based on competition results, with higher points for stronger performances. The top 64 athletes in each division qualify for the World Championships, with additional spots reserved for host nations and continental champions.
What’s Next for the Athletes
De Smedt is scheduled to compete in the May 2023 World Cup stage in Paris, France, while Stinkens will participate in the June event in Incheon, South Korea. Both athletes are targeting the 2024 Olympic qualifiers, with the World Archery World Cup serving as a primary pathway to the Games.
