Chang tops Salt Lake ranking round; misses world record by 3

Korean Olympic Champion Chang Hye Jin scored 683 points on the 72-arrow, 70-metre recurve ranking round to lead recurve women’s qualification at the third stage of the 2017 Hyundai Archery World Cup, outscoring all the recurve men on the field, too.

“I shot that score and I had no expectation that I would come in first place – but the men’s team came up to me and said I did very well,” said Chang. “The first half was good and I felt in form so I shot well, even though there was a little bit of wind. I managed the wind. In the second half I got a bit nervous.” 

“I’m very happy that I could beat all the men.”

Im Dong Hyun was the highest recurve men’s scorer on 680 points.

“The interesting thing is that we had strong wind on the venue but among the Korean team, I have the lowest poundage, only around 38 [lbs].”

The Rio 2016 gold medallist is also the shortest on the team. Also an advantage in the wind?

“No! My arrows have to fly higher and travel further to get to the target,” she said, laughing.

Heading into the last 12 arrows, the 30-year-old was seven points ahead of world record pace. It was then that the previously-settled wind started blowing hard.

She shot a low six, and an end of 52, then finished with a 54. Four points shy of the score she needed.

“I’m not disappointed because 347 is the highest score I’ve ever shot at a World Cup stage, so that was really satisfying,” added Chang. “I feel like as time goes by I’m getting better and better and closer to my potential – so I’m quite happy with my process.”

“I’ve gained a lot of confidence since winning Rio. I feel like that confidence has given me some sort of advantage.”

Ki Bo Bae came in second over recurve women’s qualification in Salt Lake on 673 points and Chinese Taipei’s Tan Ya-Ting third with 666.

The third stage of the 2017 Hyundai Archery World Cup runs 20 to 25 June in Salt Lake City, USA.