Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympians to watch: recurve girls’ edition

Left to right, the five recurve girls most worth watching in the archer competition at the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games…

1) LEE Eun Gyeong (KOR): A complete unknown, internationally. LEE, however – has been blasting down impressive ends during practice. Korea is known for its ridiculous depth – and periodically parades mysterious names out for world-level events, especially in the junior categories.

KWAK, the Singapore 2010 winner, was one such name… and it wouldn’t surprise if LEE replaced her.

2) Bryony PITMAN (GBR): One of Britain’s emerging performance archers, PITMAN has shot internationally as a junior at world indoor, outdoor and field championships – as well as an appearance on the senior European Grand Prix circuit.

3) Regina ROMERO (GUA): Romeo won the Central American and Caribbean Games qualifier in Guatemala – as a senior – and was a cadet finalist at the last World Archery Youth Championships. She came fourth at that last junior event in China, which puts her as an odds-on favourite for the final stages at Nanjing.

4) Melanie GAUBIL (FRA): Melanie was team world champion with France at Wuxi 2013. Since then, she’s shot some new-level scores in France…

5) LI Jiaman (CHN): China is awarded a quota place in each category at this Youth Olympics due to it being the host nation. Since the country turned down its boys’ spot, LI is the home supporter’s prime shot at a medal.

Last time China hosted an Olympics, a Chinese archer won

Plus: Karoline TATAFU flew the Tongan flag during the opening ceremony, while Australian Jessica SUTTON has the added incentive of a rival sibling: her sister is shooting just a few thousand kilometres away, at the World Archery Field Championships in Zagreb, Croatia.

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