Historic Bronze for Israel at World Field Archery Championships
Itay Shanny won bronze and Roy Dror finished fourth in a historic all-Israeli duel at the World Field Archery Championships in Yankton, South Dakota.
Historic Archery Bronze for Israel at World Championships
An unprecedented all-Israeli duel took place at the World Field Archery Championships in Yankton, South Dakota, as Itay Shanny and Roy Dror faced off head-to-head for the bronze medal. Shanny emerged victorious with a 60-56 score over Dror, making history as the first Israeli archer to ever win a medal at the World Championships.
The high-stakes bronze match was contested across four different targets, featuring three arrows per target and a maximum possible score of 72 points. Despite light rain falling during the final, Shanny maintained his composure to claim the historic win. Following the intense battle, the two teammates, who frequently compete against one another for domestic titles, shared a warm embrace.
Incredible Path Through the World Elite
Both Shanny and Dror carved an extraordinary path to the final stages by defeating vastly more experienced international opponents. Shanny triumphed in the round of 16 against Italy's Matteo Borsani, the world number three and 2025 World Games gold medalist, before defeating British World Games silver medalist Patrick Huston in the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, Dror secured fourth place in the qualifications and advanced directly to the round of 16, where he defeated Dutch 2025 World Games bronze medalist Willem Bakker, followed by a stunning quarterfinal performance against Italy's Federico Musolesi.
"It was a great day for Israel first and foremost. I competed against rivals who have been in this sport for decades, while our national team is just at the beginning of the road," said Itay Shanny after securing the bronze medal. Roy Dror added, "It was a bitter end to a successful week, but congratulations to Itay on this medal, he completely deserves it."
Looking Ahead to Los Angeles 2028
The historic achievement carries significant weight for Israel's preparations toward the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. World ranking points are a crucial pathway to securing Olympic quotas, and field archery events contribute directly to the global ranking calculations. Following this monumental success, both Israeli archers are expected to see a major jump in the international rankings, cementing their status on the global stage.
