Bold prediction
With Kang Chaeyoung’s eighth World Cup stage gold in 11 years in Shanghai (stage two) sandwiched between Zhu Jingyi’s first and second career victories in Puebla (stage one) and Antalya 2026 (stage three), Marie Horackova is the sole recurve women’s stage winner of the 2026 World Cup.
Horackova has established herself as one of the top archers in recent years, capped by her remarkable campaign at Berlin 2023, where she became the first female archery world champion from Czechia.
Amazingly, though, the 28-year-old had never won a medal on the sport’s premier international circuit, let alone a gold, before finally getting over the line in the baking heat of Madrid (stage four).
Horackova is also at the highest world ranking of her career at number three and, given her form in the 2026 Hyundai Archery World Cup, you might think the trophy in Saltillo will be hers.
The 2024 Vegas Shoot bronze medallist, however, is not one of the two top seeds for Thursday 10 September’s draw.
Mexico’s Ana Paula Vazquez Flores has found herself in there after a sterling comeback season following major shoulder surgery after the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
She was runner-up to Jingyi in Antalya and only lost to teammate Alejandra Valencia Trujillo – Mexico’s host-nation pick for the category – at the Central American and Caribbean Games.
To become only the second Mexican recurve women’s World Cup champion after Aida Roman would be a special way to cap an extraordinary recovery.
Horackova and Vazquez Flores may have more experience, but Türkiye’s Elif Gokkir is one not to rule out – the other top seed.
Her gold at the European Grand Prix Spring Arrows was part of a breakout year for the 19-year-old archer, who also became a bronze medallist at the European Outdoor Championships and was Horackova’s opponent in the Madrid stage final, where she finished runner-up.
Elia Canales could be another to look out for, especially considering her and Andres Temiño Mediel‘s fantastic match against China in the mixed team gold medal match in Madrid, which is undoubtedly one of the highlights of the 2026 outdoor season – which you can watch here.
Should they face each other again, Gokkir will undoubtedly want revenge after a ruthless 6-0 loss to the Czech in Spain.
Elia Canales could be another to watch, especially considering her and Andres Temiño Mediel’s fantastic match against China in the mixed team gold medal match in Madrid, which was undoubtedly one of the highlights of the 2026 outdoor season.
