Arrows at Gold - London 2012 Olympics, Womens Team Medal Matches

Mexico vs United States - Bronze Medal
A struggling trio of Mexicans went head to head against another consistent United States performance where the Americans once again found the nine early and often. A full house of nines saw the USA up 54-50 after the first end as Mexico were outside the gold rings on three shots. A single eight in the United States' fifth shot only gave them an extra two point advantage after the second end as their opponents found the bullseye but cancelled it out with a seven.

Mexico pulled themselves up to a competing level with just one eight, but this time their ten was matched by the USA leaving the scores 161-155 with one end remaining. It was too much to ask for Mexico as they returned to their inconsistent shooting. For their part the USA finished with another five nines to claim the bronze medals.

MEXICO									UNITED STATES
End	Arrows						Score		End	Arrows						Score
1	8	9	9	9	8	7	50		1	9	9	9	9	9	9	54
2	8	10	7	9	9	8	51		2	9	9	9	9	8	9	53
3	8	9	9	9	10	9	54		3	9	10	9	9	9	8	54
4	8	10	8	9	8	9	52		4	9	9	9	9	8	9	53
Total							207		Total							214

Korea vs Taipei
After an all North American match it was time to turn attention to the all Asian final. Korea stumbled out of the blocks with a six on the very first arrow. A seven and two eights would also score in the opening end and not even their ten could save them, leaving Taipei up 54-48 as they hit all gold except a lone seven on the final shot.

Korea pulled themselves together after that poor end and edged the Taipei archers in the second to claw back a point. Another high-scoring end from Taipei however left little doubt as to which way this match would go, Korea able to tie 55-55 with three tens but that still left them staring down a 162-157 scoreline.

Taipei extended their lead by another two points after three arrows in the final end and, obviously feeling relaxed, proceeded to end the match with a hat trick of tens becoming Olympic gold medalists.

KOREA									TAIPEI
End	Arrows						Score		End	Arrows						Score
1	6	9	8	7	10	8	48		1	9	9	10	10	9	7	54
2	9	9	10	9	8	9	54		2	9	10	8	8	9	9	53
3	8	10	8	10	9	10	55		3	8	10	9	9	10	9	55
4	8	9	8	10	9	10	54		4	10	8	9	10	10	10	57
Total							211		Total							219

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Arrows at Gold - London 2012 Olympics, Womens Team Semifinals

Korea vs Mexico
The first semifinal was a hot mess, especially in the second end where both teams scored under fifty. Korea held a four point lead after the first with two late tens securing their advantage, but neither side would get inside the ten during the second end and only four nines between them were scored. Both teams had landed in the eight ring four times through the first half of the match, with several arrows scoring lower still.

Business picked up in the third thanks to a trio of bullseyes for Korea while Mexico continued to languish in the eights with only two gold-ringed shots to their credit. The final end was a similar story to guarantee a medal for Korea as they progress to the final leaving Mexico in the bronze medal match.

KOREA									MEXICO
End	Arrows						Score		End	Arrows						Score
1	9	8	9	8	10	10	54		1	9	8	7	8	9	9	50
2	9	8	8	9	7	6	47		2	8	7	7	9	8	9	48
3	10	10	9	8	8	10	55		3	10	8	9	8	8	8	51
4	9	10	10	9	9	7	54		4	10	9	9	8	7	8	51
Total							210		Total							200

Taipei vs United States
The United States had a unique look about their scoreline with four eights interrupting an otherwise clean sweep of nines. This kept them two points behind at the halfway stage as Taipei found the ten on two occasions. The all gold third ends extended Taipei's lead to four points as they hit another two bullseyes, and they repeated the performance in the fourth end to cement their place in the final to face Korea. USA will play Mexico for the bronze.

TAIPEI									UNITED STATES
End	Arrows						Score		End	Arrows						Score
1	9	10	9	8	8	9	53		1	9	9	9	8	9	8	52
2	8	9	9	10	8	9	53		2	9	8	8	9	9	9	52
3	10	9	10	9	9	9	56		3	9	9	9	9	9	9	54
4	10	9	10	9	8	9	55		4	9	9	9	9	9	9	54
Total							217		Total							212

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Arrows at Gold - London 2012 Olympics, Womens Team Quarterfinals

Korea vs India
India lost a winnable match in the first end, hitting three sixes. They went on to beat the Koreans in the remaining three ends by a score of 167-162 but ultimately falling five shy of a winning score. Korea were not on song only hitting all gold in the second end, the other ends polluted with eights and seven; they hit the bullseye six times.

With seven tens and just a pair of eights India were the better team and would deservedly be competing for medals if not for that opening end score of forty-four.

KOREA									INDIA
End	Arrows						Score		End	Arrows						Score
1	8	9	9	10	9	8	53		1	9	9	6	6	8	6	44
2	10	9	9	9	9	10	56		2	9	10	10	9	9	10	57
3	10	8	8	7	9	9	51		3	9	10	9	9	9	9	55
4	9	9	10	10	8	9	55		4	9	10	10	8	10	8	55
Total							215		Total							211

Japan vs Mexico
Japan were unable to bring their from from the first round into their contest with Mexico. Whereas in their victory over the Ukrainians Japan managed to score 167 through three ends, only going outside the eight in the final end, here they managed to shoot seven sevens while Mexico hit nothing by 8-9-10.

Despite three sevens in the opening half Japan was tied with the Mexicans 106-106 with four tens, three of which came in the first end. Mexico hit a pair of tens and a mixture of eights and nines as they tried to find their groove. Neither side found the centre in the third end but Mexico's three eights trumped the triple sevens of Japan, and the golden fourth end for Mexico sealed their place into the semifinals where they will face Korea.

JAPAN									MEXICO
End	Arrows						Score		End	Arrows						Score
1	7	9	10	10	10	7	53		1	10	9	9	8	8	8	52
2	9	7	8	10	9	10	53		2	9	9	9	8	9	10	54
3	7	9	7	9	7	9	48		3	8	8	9	9	9	8	51
4	8	7	9	9	10	9	52		4	10	9	9	10	9	10	57
Total							206		Total							214

Taipei vs Russia
Russia were below par for this one with almost half of their shots (11/24) scoring eight, another two in the second end finding the six. This only made things easier for Taipei as they shot outside of the gold rings once through the first three ends, relaxing in the final go-round with the match won.

TAIPEI									RUSSIA
End	Arrows						Score		End	Arrows						Score
1	10	9	10	9	9	10	57		1	8	8	10	8	8	8	50
2	8	9	10	9	9	9	54		2	10	8	6	9	6	10	49
3	10	10	9	9	9	9	56		3	9	9	10	9	9	8	54
4	8	9	8	9	8	7	49		4	8	10	9	8	8	8	51
Total							216		Total							204

China vs United States
One team hit the bullseye five times, the other just twice and both found a pair of sevens. But the real difference came when the United States consistently found the nine; eighteen of their twenty-four arrows hitting the mark. On the other side, for every nine China hit they were finding an eight to go along with it and ultimately losing the match in the third end where they scored no tens but three eights and a seven. The USA did not need a maximum in the second half of the match as they only feel outside the nine twice.

CHINA									UNITED STATES
End	Arrows						Score		End	Arrows						Score
1	10	10	8	8	9	8	53		1	9	10	9	8	9	7	52
2	9	9	8	10	9	9	54		2	9	9	9	9	10	9	55
3	8	9	7	8	8	9	49		3	9	8	9	9	9	9	53
4	9	10	8	9	10	7	53		4	9	9	9	9	7	9	52
Total							209		Total							212

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Arrows at Gold - London 2012 Olympics, Mens Team Quarterfinals

Korea vs Ukraine
Team Korea easily make their way into the semifinals after their first match of the tournament, sweeping aside Ukraine by sixteen points. The victor's lone eight came in the first end while Ukraine hit a seven for a 57-54 scoreline. After that it was all gold rings for Korea extending their lead with each end while the Ukrainians struggled to keep up thanks to half a dozen eights and another seven.

KOREA									UKRAINE
End	Arrows						Score		End	Arrows						Score
1	10	10	9	10	8	10	57		1	9	10	10	9	9	7	54
2	10	9	10	9	10	10	58		2	9	10	8	9	8	9	53
3	10	9	9	10	9	9	56		3	10	8	8	7	9	8	50
4	10	9	9	10	9	10	57		4	8	9	9	9	10	10	55
Total							228		Total							212

India vs United States
Korea will face the Americans after they tried to blow their four point lead going into the final end by firing off a pair of sevens, one of which was barely enough to win the match on the final shot. India had a hard time finding the bullseye with four tens throughout, three of them coming in the second end. In comparison the United States hit six in the first half of the contest and they continued to stay just ahead after three ends despite no-one scoring a maximum.

The final end came with America leading 164-160, increasing this lead to 183-178 with four arrows per side remaining. An 8-9-10 from India pulled it back within three, USA shooting 7-9-9 and needing at least a seven to finish it off which they just about managed.

INDIA									UNITED STATES
End	Arrows						Score		End	Arrows						Score
1	9	8	9	9	9	9	53		1	10	9	9	8	9	10	55
2	10	9	10	10	9	9	57		2	10	9	10	10	10	9	58
3	8	8	9	8	9	8	50		3	9	9	9	7	8	9	51
4	9	9	8	9	10	9	54		4	9	10	7	9	9	7	51
Total							214		Total							215

China vs Italy
A terrible start from the Chinese left them facing a 56-49 scoreline after hitting a pair of sevens and no tens. Italy then found the seven in the second end while China picked it up to reverse their fortunes with four bullseyes and tie the scores 107-107. The teams remained deadlocked heading into the final end where nerves would be tested.

China had a point lead with three arrows left but could have held a match winning advantage after shooting 10-7-10 while the Italians managed 10-8-8. Both teams only found yellow rings with their final shots but Italy held their nerve to grab an extra ten over their rivals and take the match to a shoot-off where each athlete takes one final shot.

The lone ten of China was the difference maker despite starting out on a 8-9 deficit. The second arrows turned the scores around 18-17 with both ending in the nine to put China through into the final four and the chance to play either Mexico or France.

CHINA									ITALY
End	Arrows						Score		End	Arrows						Score
1	9	7	7	9	8	9	49		1	9	10	10	9	9	9	56
2	10	9	10	10	9	10	58		2	7	8	8	9	9	10	51
3	9	9	10	9	9	9	55		3	9	9	9	9	9	10	55
4	10	7	10	9	9	10	55		4	10	8	8	10	9	10	55
Total							217		Total							217
Shoot-Off
CHINA			ITALY
1	8		1	9
2	10		2	8
3	9		3	9
Total	27		Total	26

Mexico vs France
Mexico could count themselves lucky to be tied 51-51 after the first end as the third arrow scored a lowly five points as France hit the seven twice. This lifeline led to a four point lead at the halfway stage for Mexico as it was France's turn to low score hitting a six, and while the eventual winners kept their play up at a high level, France hit three more sevens to crash to a seven point defeat.

MEXICO									FRANCE
End	Arrows						Score		End	Arrows						Score
1	10	9	5	10	8	9	51		1	10	10	7	8	9	7	51
2	10	8	9	10	8	10	55		2	8	10	9	9	6	9	51
3	9	10	8	9	8	10	54		3	7	7	9	9	10	10	52
4	8	9	9	9	10	8	53		4	9	7	9	10	8	9	52
Total							213		Total							206

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Arrows at Gold - London 2012 Olympics, Mens Team First Round

Ukraine vs Great Britain
A strong start from the Brits earned them a three point lead after the first end 58-55, but the Ukrainians were just warming up while Team GB may have been punching above their weight. A seven and a trio of eights for Britain, coupled with just one arrow before nine for the Ukraine, turned the scores around to 111-109.

The third end was brighter for GB with all nines but Ukraine still extended their lead with four tens: 169-163. The final end was made easier for the eventual winners with another British seven. This puts the Ukraine team through to the Quarterfinal to face Korea.

UKRAINE									GREAT BRITAIN
End	Arrows						Score		End	Arrows						Score
1	8	10	10	9	8	10	55		1	10	9	10	10	9	10	58
2	10	9	10	9	10	8	56		2	8	10	10	8	7	8	51
3	9	10	10	10	9	10	58		3	9	9	9	9	9	9	54
4	10	10	9	10	9	8	56		4	10	9	8	10	7	10	54
Total							225		Total							217

Japan vs India
A nailbiting finish saw India make their way into the quarterfinals in match that came down to the last shot. A poor start from Japan with a single ten to go with their seven allowed India to run out to a 58-52 lead with four tens of their own.

Japan then brought the score back to within three and then tied it up 165-165 as India struggled to find the centre of the target with only a single ten in twelve arrows; Japan had hit the bullseye seven times in the same span. The final end ebbed and flowed and it all came down to the very last shot where India needed a nine to win putting them through to face the United States.

JAPAN									INDIA
End	Arrows						Score		End	Arrows						Score
1	9	8	9	10	9	7	52		1	10	10	9	9	10	10	58
2	10	9	10	9	8	10	56		2	8	9	9	9	9	9	53
3	10	9	10	10	8	10	57		3	9	8	9	9	9	10	54
4	10	8	9	9	10	9	55		4	9	10	10	9	9	9	56
Total							220		Total							221

Taipei vs Italy
The third match of the round was a walkover for the Italians as their opponents landed in the seven five times along with a pair of sixes after a bright start in the opening end. Despite hitting a six and seven of their own in the second end, Italy had a 104-101 lead at the halfway mark, extending their advantage with four tens in the third. Taipei looked to finish the match on a bright note starting the final end with 10-10-8 but followed that up with a score of nineteen for the final three arrows.

TAIPEI									ITALY
End	Arrows						Score		End	Arrows						Score
1	8	8	9	9	9	10	53		1	10	9	10	8	9	8	54
2	8	10	7	7	9	7	48		2	7	6	9	8	10	10	50
3	8	7	8	10	10	9	52		3	9	10	10	10	8	10	57
4	10	10	8	6	7	6	47		4	10	10	10	8	10	8	56
Total							200		Total							217

Mexico vs Malaysia
Mexico are the final team to make their way into the quarterfinals but they struggled to make an impression, they just happened to struggle less than the Malaysians. Malaysia did have the edge after the second end, coming back from a 54-52 deficit to take a 107-106 lead through two ends with both sides only managing three tens among a sea of eights and nines.

While Malaysia continued to find the same rings, Mexico started to find the bullseye a bit easier edging them ahead in the third end 160-157 which allowed them to relax a little at the end despite shooting their first seven.

MEXICO									MALAYSIA
End	Arrows						Score		End	Arrows						Score
1	8	9	10	10	8	9	54		1	9	10	9	9	7	8	52
2	8	8	9	8	10	9	52		2	9	10	9	8	9	10	55
3	10	10	8	9	8	9	54		3	8	9	8	8	9	8	50
4	10	10	9	7	8	9	53		4	8	9	10	8	9	9	53
Total							213		Total							210

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