Mexican compound archer Andrea Maya Becerra claimed her first individual victory at the Archery World Cup during the first stage of the season, held in Central Florida.
Becerra faced Olivia Dean of the United States in the gold medal final, in a close duel that was defined in tie-break arrows.
At the start of the match, the Mexican took a one-point lead, which she lost in the third end. However, in the fourth, she shot a perfect score against Dean’s 29 points, which allowed her to regain the initial one-point lead.
In the last end, Becerra shot two arrows on 9, which brought the match to tie-breaking arrows.
Dean was the first to shoot, placing her arrow on 10. Becerra also hit the 10, but her arrow was closer to the centre, giving her the victory.
Last year, the Mexican came close to the top of the podium twice, so this win represents a great personal achievement.
Dean took the silver medal, the first of her career in individual events on the world circuit.
The bronze medal went to Mexico’s Mariana Bernal, who returned to the team after an injury that kept her out for two years. Bernal beat Spain’s Andrea Muñoz by a score of 144-141 to win her first individual medal at the World Cup.
In the men’s compound category, Mexico’s Sebastian Garcia won the silver medal, also his first individual medal on the circuit. He faced Denmark’s Mathias Fullerton in the final for gold, where he lost by a difference of four points, 148-144.