Korea’s KWAK breaks the world record in qualifications

Archers shot the individual qualifications Wednesday morning at the Youth Olympic Games. The highlight of the day was the new junior world record set by KWAK Ye Ji (KOR) at 670 points.   The archery competition started with the individual qualifications Wednesday morning at the Kallang Field. Boys and girls shot the 70m Round, consisting of two rounds of 36 arrows at 70 metres. Rain showers that hit Singapore in the morning privileged the stronger archers.   Junior Men Korea’s PARK Min Beom had a 7-point lead over his closest opponent after the first half of the men’s competition. However the Netherlands’ Rick van den OEVER, who already has experience at the elite level, displayed the best shooting of the day in the second half (332 points) to take the lead over PARK, 653-651.   The archers that follow are more than 10 points behind. Mark NESBITT (GBR) shot 322 and 316 to finish 3rd (638). In 4th and 5thplace we find Russia and India, represented by Bolot TSYBZHITOV (638) and Atanu DAS (637), respectively. Gregor RAJH from Slovenia shot 636 points to place 6th.   Junior Women As expected, the 2009 World Cup Final champion KWAK Ye Ji (KOR) dominated the women’s qualifications. With 670 points, she set a new junior world record, defeating by 4 points the record held since 2001 by her compatriot UM Hye-Rang. With that score KWAK has also surpassed all the boys.   TAN Ya-Ting (TPE), 4th after the first half, climbed to the 2nd place with a total of 648. The 2008 World Cadet Champion Tatiana SEGINA (RUS) finished 3rd with 639 points, followed by the 2008 Olympian from Mexico Mariana AVITIA (637).   The 5th spot went to Seema VERMA (IND). Three archers from the former Soviet Union completed the top 8: Farida TUKEBAYEVA from Kazakhstan was 6th, Lidiia SICHENIKOVA from the Ukraine was in 7th place, and Alexandra MIRCA from Moldova finished 8th.   Vanahé ANTILLE World Archery Communication