Tlaxcala (Mexico): China’s Olympic silver medalist Li Jiaman won her first World Cup Final title in her debut at the season-ending tournament in Tlaxcala de Xicohtencatl, Mexico, on Sunday.
Li, a member of China’s women’s team that secured silver at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, dominated India’s Deepika Kumari 6-0 in the final, capping off a successful season that included a women’s team gold at the World Cup in Shanghai.
“I was just trying to get the best arrows out. I wasn’t thinking too much about winning or losing,” Li told World Archery.
The eight-player event saw Li start strong with a 7-3 victory over Angela Ruiz of Mexico before eliminating Olympic women’s team gold medalist Jeon Hunyoung 6-2. In the final, Li opened with a narrow 27-26 win against Kumari, followed by a perfect 30, including an X, in the second set.
Three 9s in the third set secured her spot at the top of the podium as Kumari struggled, totaling 25 with a disappointing 7.
Alejandra Valencia, the other Mexican archer in the women’s recurve competition, delighted the home crowd by defeating Jeon 6-2 to take the bronze medal.
In the men’s recurve final, Kim Woo-jin of South Korea concluded his 2024 season on a high note after winning three gold medals at the Paris Olympics. The world No. 1 beat compatriot Lee Woo-seak 7-3 to claim his fifth World Cup Final title.
“First of all, I’m very happy. I will try to win not only these five times but many more in a row,” Kim said.
Marcus D’Almeida of Brazil completed the podium with a victory over Matias Grande of Mexico in the bronze medal match.
