Korea unbeaten in recurve team matchplay through two stages

Korea’s recurve men’s and women’s teams won gold medals on the beach at the second stage of the Hyundai Archery World Cup in Antalya, Turkey to remain unbeaten through two legs of the international circuit in 2018.

The Korean men beat Japan, 5-3, in the final, thanks to Im Dong Hyun’s penultimate arrow being upgraded from an eight to a nine.

“I was nervous about Im’s last arrow and if we had to go to a shoot-off, but I thought the arrow was a nine,” said Lee Woo Seok.

After starting with a 52-point set to Japan’s 50, Korea shot three consistent volleys totalling 56 each.

“There was a strong wind. I shot first and hit the 10 and that made the start of the match easily,” said opener Kim Woojin.

Im, Lee and Kim won the second set, lost the third to an impressive 58 from Japan – and then the two teams split the third, giving Korea the single set point needed to claim gold.

Lee and Kim, now clearly entrenched as the top two shots on the Korean men’s team, also shoot against each other for individual gold at the second stage of the 2018 Hyundai Archery World Cup.

“We’re training in Korea with Kim Woojin and Lee Woo Seok fixed in the first and second positions [in the team rotation]. Myself and Oh Jin Hyek are changing in the third place,” said Im, the reigning World Archery Champion.

Oh shoots for individual bronze in Antalya.

The Korean women dispatched Germany in three sets, 5-1, despite not shooting to their normal level, after setting the world record in team qualifying earlier in Antalya.

“I couldn’t understand the direction and strength of the wind which made things complicated,” said Lee Eun Gyeong, a Youth Olympian in 2014 enjoying her first season on Korea’s senior team.

Chang Hye Jin shot a six in the last set and she, Lee and Kang Chae Young never topped 53 out of a possible 60 points in a single six-arrow set.

“Because of the strong wind, we had to concentrate hard on proper technique and balance,” said Chang. “I’m happy to have won.”

Germany couldn’t take advantage, shooting only two 10s in the match, allowing the Koreans to sweep the two team podiums.

The second stage of the Hyundai Archery World Cup takes place in Antalya, Turkey on 20-26 May.