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Triple gold for Zhang Tianxin as China triumphs in W1

28 septembre 2025

Gwangju, Korea

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China’s Zhang Tianxin became the only triple gold medallist of the Gwangju 2025 World Archery Para Championships, winning individual W1 gold over Paralympic Champion Jason Tabansky, 138-132.

A slow start from the American left him four points adrift after the first end – a gap Zhang maintained with steady, composed shooting. Two eights from Tabansky in the fourth end confirmed the result.

Zhang had already collected mixed team gold with Wang Liya and men’s doubles gold alongside Li Pan.

“It’s great that in my competitive career, I have achieved yet another Grand Slam title,” said the 27-year-old.

“My opponent was exceptionally strong – he’s always been my benchmark,” added Zhang, praising Tabansky. “To have defeated him this time, I feel truly honoured.”

Zhang, who won individual bronze and team gold at Paris 2024, now adds his first world individual crown to a long list of continental titles.

The men’s bronze went to Park Hong Jo of Korea, who beat Türkiye’s Nihat Türkmenoǧlu 137-131.

Park also collected two more bronzes – in the mixed team with veteran Kim Ok Geum and in the men’s team with Kim Haksun – finishing the championships with three medals.

The W1 women’s title went to world number one Sarka Pultar Musilova of Czechia, who defeated Spain’s Isabel Fernandez Jimenez 134-129.

Pultar Musilova was also part of the mixed team silver medallists with David Drahoninsky and the women’s team bronze winners with Tereza Brandtlova – giving her a full set of medals in Gwangju.

“I didn't expect to win three medals and the whole collection,” she laughed. “If anyone had told me that, I would have sent them to a mental hospital.”

There was national pride in evidence, after a good meet for the team.

“We’ll leave here with pride that the work we are doing is excellent and that it leads to success. This is not only for us, but for the whole Czech Republic.”

China did not sweep the category. Wang Liya lost the individual bronze to Brandtlova and, with Cen Mengkan, fell heavily to Korea in the women’s doubles final, 140-122 – scoring just three and four in consecutive ends.

Indeed, it was Korea who emerged as the day’s other big winners, claiming all three of their team finals. The highlight came in the women’s doubles, where Kim Ok Geum, at 65 years old and after more than a decade on the international circuit, finally secured her first world gold.

Competition in Gwangju concludes on Sunday with the recurve finals.