Things to know ahead of the 2021 World Archery Championships

Weeks on from an epic outing at Tokyo 2020, archery makes a quick return to the global stage as the 2021 World Championships begin in Yankton, South Dakota, USA on Sunday (19 September).

There are individual medals up for grabs in the Olympic recurve bow events, men's and women's, as well as the compound bow.

There are also team competitions in both disciplines as well as mixed team events for both bows.

Two years ago in the Netherlands, Chinese Taipei's women enjoyed success in the recurve as Lei Chien-ying won individual gold before linking up with Peng Chia-mao and Tan Ya-ting to defeat Republic of Korea in the team final.

But Lei will not defend her titles with Lin Chia-en and Le Dai-ling the nation's two representatives in Yankton.

Chinese Taipei also have a completely different line-up from the team that won the compound women's team title in 's-Hertogenbosch.

Both Brady Ellison (recurve) and James Lutz (compound) will defend their respective world titles on home soil.

But South Korea's recurve archers are the ones to watch after they claimed four golds from a possible five in Tokyo.

All eyes will be on An San who won individual, women's team and mixed team gold, while Turkey's Mete Gazoz will hope to add the world title to his men's individual Olympic crown.

Natalia Avdeeva, representing the Russian Archery Federation, defends her compound individual title.

Here's what you need to know ahead of the championships.

When and where are they?

The 2021 World Archery Championships are set to take place across seven days, beginning 19 September with the concluding round of action on September 26.

Participants will travel to South Dakota in the United States in their bid for post-Olympic glory.

Stars to watch

There will be some new and old faces bidding for gold at the championships, including some Olympians hoping to better or equal their success from Tokyo.

An San made headlines in Tokyo for her three golds, with her short hair inspiring other women - aggrieved at online abuse directed towards her by Korean anti-feminists - to cut their own hair in solidarity.

The 20-year-old is making her World Championship debut with Jang Min-hee and Kang Chaeyoung alongside her as they were in Tokyo.

Kim Je Deok will again team up with An in the mixed team event, and he and two-time individual world champion Kim Woojin and Oh Jinhyek will bid to reclaim the men's team title from China.

Mete Gazoz was the only non-Korean archer to win gold in Tokyo, clinching Turkey's first archery Olympic medal.

The 22-year-old, who famously smiles broadly in high-pressure situations, fell to Jack Williams of the United States in the second round at the last World Championships in 2019.

Gazoz beat another American, reigning world champion Brady Ellison, in the quarter-finals in Tokyo thanks to a perfect 30 in the final set.

This tournament will be special for the 32-year-old as he defends his individual title.

A three-time Olympic medallist, Ellison is one of the stars of the sport and will seek to add to his two golds having won the team title back in 2013.

Also look out for Japanese veteran Furukawa Takaharu who won individual and men's team bronze in Tokyo.

The 37-year-old lost out to Gazoz in the semi-finals before beating Chinese Taipei's Tang Chih-chun to claim his third Olympic medal having won individual silver at London 2012.

Hoping to continue a golden year is Iran's recurve queen Zahra Nemati fresh from winning a third consecutive Paralympic gold medal in Tokyo.

Nemati made history back at London 2012 when she became the first Iranian woman to win a gold medal at the Paralympic or Olympic Games.

Paralysed from the waist down after a car crash in 2003, Nemati competed at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games weeks before claiming her second Paralympic title.

Ranked number 104, she will have her work cut out to make it to the latter stages of the competition

Schedule and how to watch

Tuesday 21 September

Qualification round

Wednesday 22 September

Team, Mixed Team Eliminations

Thursday 23 September

Team, Mixed Team Eliminations

Friday 24 September

Individual and Team Finals
Team Medal Matches
Awards Ceremony

Saturday 25 September

Finals Compound
Mixed Team Medal Matches
Individual Medal Matches
Awards Ceremony

Sunday 26 September

Finals Recurve
Team Medal Matches
Mixed Team Medal Matches
Individual Medal Matches
Awards and Closing Ceremony

All of the action will be streamed live on World Archery's YouTube site.

And the archers will remain in Yankton for the World Cup Final on 29-30 September.