Sim Yeji matches recurve women’s world-best mark

Korea’s Sim Yeji, representing the Hyundai Mobis company team, shot 594 out of a possible 600 points to match the recurve women’s world record for the 18-metre, 60-arrow indoor ranking round at the second stage of the 2016/17 Indoor Archery World Cup in Bangkok, Thailand.

The 23-year-old, who finished second at the stage in 2015, shot four perfect ends to close her round.

All 10 of the top recurve women’s qualifiers were Korean. Hyundai Department Store’s Song Jiyung and Jeon Hunyoung slotted in second and third on 592 and 589, respectively. Triple Olympic gold medallist Yun Mi Jin was eighth, world record holder Park Sehui ninth and Rio 2016 Olympic Champion Chang Hye Jin 10th.

Khatuna Lorig, in 11th, was the highest non-Korean seed.

Mister Perfect Mike Schloesser opened stage two of the annual indoor tour as he did stage one, with 599 out of 600 points, one point off the perfect world record he owns, and a top ranking. Seven points clear of the number-two compound men’s qualifier, Nima Mahboubi Matbooe of Iran, Schloesser said he was still disappointed.

“Last time was okay,” he explained, referring to the 599-point round he shot in Marrakesh. “But this time was not necessary.”

“I wasn’t completely focused and that arrow [the nine] just went off too quickly. I was still going to the nine. With that arrow, you have to be lucky, but it was just a quarter-shaft out.”

Reo Wilde rounded out the top-three seeders on 590, drawn with Majid Kianzad but ahead on tiebreaker.

Russian athlete Natalia Avdeeva led the compound women’s qualifiers with 586 points. Avdeeva shot a strong back half to jump up from third at the 30-arrow mark. Iran’s Alemeh Sadat Hashempure was second on tiebreaker ahead of So Chae Won, from Korean pro team Hyundai Mobis. Both had 580 for the round.

The second stage of the 2016/17 Indoor Archery World Cup runs 10/11 December 2016 in Bangkok, Thailand.