Team Triumphs in Historic Compound Showdown – Path to Olympic Mixed Team Debut at Los Angeles 2028

NewsHost nation fighting for compound gold as individual finals set at Antalya 2026 22 May 2026 Antalya, Türkiye The 2026 European Outdoor Championships reached a pivotal moment as Türkiye’s athletes secured their places in the compound gold medal matches, marking a significant chapter in the event’s history. The tournament, held in Antalya, saw intense competition in the compound category, with the sport set to make its Olympic debut at Los Angeles 2028 as part of the mixed team event. Hazal Burun, a 21-year-old Turkish archer, advanced to the gold medal match after defeating Shanghai champion Lisell Jaatma and Danish rising star Sofie Louise Dam Marcussen. Burun, who previously won bronze at the 2024 European Championship, expressed her determination to capitalize on the opportunity. “In the 2024 European Championship I won bronze in the individual category. So this competition has a special place for me,” she said. “I trained a lot, mentally and physically. Some matches were really hard but I never gave up. I was determined to see the end. When you show resilience, there is no match you can lose.” Burun’s journey to the final included a silver medal win at this year’s Spring Arrows tournament on the same field. Her opponent in the gold medal match, Tanja Gellenthien, faced a challenging path to the final. Gellenthien, a decorated archer, revealed the difficulties of adjusting to a last-minute change in equipment. “My bow didn’t show up. I shot with Sanne de Laat’s spare bow all week and last night my bow arrived, so I didn’t have time to shoot