Despite the absence of some of its top archers, traditional powerhouse Korea were still capable of snatching three golds out of eight on offer at the Asian Archery Championships.
Following Lee Sung-jin and Kwon Oh-hyang’s victories in the women’s individual recurve and compound, Korea completed its golden run at the tournament with a third triumph in the women’s team compound Wednesday morning.
Lee, a member of the Korean team that clinched the title at the Athens Olympics in 2004, was the only archer who pocketed two golds in Xi’ an.
“I really want to go to Beijing (Olympics), but I have to do well in the qualification tournament for Korean archers first,” Lee added. “It will be very difficult, because the competition among Korean players are very tough.”
Korea also collected two silvers and one bronze, securing its top place in the medal table.
Philippine archers displayed their strength in the non-Olympic compound events, winning both the women’s team and men’s individual competitions, while the other three golds were carved up by India, Iran and Chinese Taipei. The Indians also reaped one silver and three bronzes.
While the host China, also the host for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, will have to leave Xi’ an with some disappointing memories.
The Chinese, who had hoped for more than one gold, only managed a silver and bronze in the women’s recurve. Both their men’s and women’s team failed to reach the podium in recurve team events, in which they had been considered title contenders.
“Our archers did their best, but we still have a lot of work to do,” said China team leader Meng Fan’ai.
With all the medals already distributed, the Asian Archery Championships will enter the final day on Thursday when the Olympic qualifying tournament is to be held. Teams that have already clinched full Olympic quotas, including China and Korea, will not compete.
(Source: en.beijing2008.cn)
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