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The most unexpected outcome of the day happened in the women’s bronze medal match between JOO Hyun Jung and Alejandra VALENCIA (main photo). It was of special significance for both archers. With a victory, either could secure their spot to the World Cup Finals: JOO as the second best Korean, or VALENCIA as the seventh best of the World Cup ranking. In their only previous encounter, in Antalya in June, the 2009 world champion JOO dominated VALENCIA, 6-0. Today, after a very tight start and a tie at 3-3, a perfect fourth set by JOO (10-10-10) gave her a 5-3 lead. The final set was shot under gusty winds. After two 8s each, VALENCIA released a 7, seemingly losing the match. The wind forced JOO to shoot a 6, resulting in a tied match and a shoot-off. JOO released an 8, and VALENCIA scored a 10, clinching the bronze hardware.
With the bronze medal, her first of the season, the 18-year-old archer from Mexico earns qualification to an impressive third World Cup Final, and depriving Miranda LEEK of a first participation. “I have dreamed about the World Cup Final since the first time I participated,” said VALENCIA. “When CHOI shot her shoot-off arrow, it’s true that it gave me a bit more security but it did not change anything for me: I still had to remain calm and serene, and it worked.”
As per the World Cup ranking, JOO’s defeat opened the door for KI Bo Bae to qualify for Paris as the second Korean, provided she won the gold medal. World N°1 KI had an exceptional 2012 season with two Olympic gold medals and a World Cup Finals victory, but she has not had as much success this year: her only individual medal was a bronze in Antalya. In today’s final, she faced an athlete who has followed the opposite path: YUN Ok-Hee, Olympic team champion and individual bronze medallist in 2008, and World Cup Final winner in 2010, was not selected for the Korean Olympic Team last year, but mounted a successful comeback, becoming the most consistent archer of the current season with a victory in Shanghai and a second place finish in Antalya. KI had previously defeated YUN twice in three encounters, but it was three years ago.
In today’s final, each archer won one set. Under increasing wind, KI looked more nervous than ever before. Her scores of 6-8-7 gave the third set, and a 4-2 lead to YUN. In a very close fourth set, YUN benefited from a close arrow that gave her the win 6-4, for her second individual gold of the season, and causing KI to lose the World Cup Finals qualification. Team and individual world champion four years ago, JOO Hyun Jung, who was not selected for the London Olympic Games, makes a successful return as the second Korean athlete qualified for Paris.
On the men’s side, the medal finals were among the four Korean men. The gold medal match was full of movement, between two newcomers who are competing in their first World Cup season – and who both had World Cup Final qualification at stake. JIN Jae WANG, 22 years old, second in Shanghai, and LEE Seungyun (photo), 18 years old, qualified for this final over immensely experienced teammates OH Jin Hyek and IM Dong-Hyun. After a perfect first set of 10-10-10, LEE suffered a technical issue that resulted in a miss, and brought the score to a tie at 2-2. However a 6 by JIN allowed LEE to recover the lead (4-2). A liner in a tight fourth set gave LEE two additional points and victory, 6-4. With an astounding gold medal win despite a miss, LEE claims both his first individual World Cup medal and World Cup Final qualification.
OH Jin Hyek and IM Dong Hyun faced off in a very tight bronze medal match. OH had been untouchable since his Olympic victory, with gold medal at this year’s first two World Cup stages; however, he suffered an upset by IM today, following his defeat to LEE in the semi-finals. Nonetheless he is qualified for the World Cup Final. IM Dong Hyun, who has been one of the top archers of the last decade, earns his first individual podium of the season today.
In the mixed team final, Italy suffered a severe defeat against Korea (photo) on a field that comprised four Olympic medallists who have between them four gold, one silver and three bronze. European champions Natalia VALEEVA and Mauro NESPOLI suffered under the gusting winds. The pair made of YUN Ok Hee and OH Jin Hyek, shooting together for the first time, finally gave Korea its first mixed team gold of the season after bronze in Shanghai and silver in Antalya. It is the third medal of the day for YUN, after the individual gold and the team silver.
In the bronze medal match, LIN Shih-Chia and CHEN Hsin-Fu, shooting the mixed team event together for the first time for Chinese Taipei, had an easy victory against Japan. Yuki HAYASHI, paired with Olympic silver medallist Takaharu FURUKAWA, suffered a 2 under gusty winds in the second end. With a victory 145-134, LIN and CHEN gave their country its first mixed team podium in over a year.
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With the bronze medal, her first of the season, the 18-year-old archer from Mexico earns qualification to an impressive third World Cup Final, and depriving Miranda LEEK of a first participation. “I have dreamed about the World Cup Final since the first time I participated,” said VALENCIA. “When CHOI shot her shoot-off arrow, it’s true that it gave me a bit more security but it did not change anything for me: I still had to remain calm and serene, and it worked.”
As per the World Cup ranking, JOO’s defeat opened the door for KI Bo Bae to qualify for Paris as the second Korean, provided she won the gold medal. World N°1 KI had an exceptional 2012 season with two Olympic gold medals and a World Cup Finals victory, but she has not had as much success this year: her only individual medal was a bronze in Antalya. In today’s final, she faced an athlete who has followed the opposite path: YUN Ok-Hee, Olympic team champion and individual bronze medallist in 2008, and World Cup Final winner in 2010, was not selected for the Korean Olympic Team last year, but mounted a successful comeback, becoming the most consistent archer of the current season with a victory in Shanghai and a second place finish in Antalya. KI had previously defeated YUN twice in three encounters, but it was three years ago.
In today’s final, each archer won one set. Under increasing wind, KI looked more nervous than ever before. Her scores of 6-8-7 gave the third set, and a 4-2 lead to YUN. In a very close fourth set, YUN benefited from a close arrow that gave her the win 6-4, for her second individual gold of the season, and causing KI to lose the World Cup Finals qualification. Team and individual world champion four years ago, JOO Hyun Jung, who was not selected for the London Olympic Games, makes a successful return as the second Korean athlete qualified for Paris.
On the men’s side, the medal finals were among the four Korean men. The gold medal match was full of movement, between two newcomers who are competing in their first World Cup season – and who both had World Cup Final qualification at stake. JIN Jae WANG, 22 years old, second in Shanghai, and LEE Seungyun (photo), 18 years old, qualified for this final over immensely experienced teammates OH Jin Hyek and IM Dong-Hyun. After a perfect first set of 10-10-10, LEE suffered a technical issue that resulted in a miss, and brought the score to a tie at 2-2. However a 6 by JIN allowed LEE to recover the lead (4-2). A liner in a tight fourth set gave LEE two additional points and victory, 6-4. With an astounding gold medal win despite a miss, LEE claims both his first individual World Cup medal and World Cup Final qualification.OH Jin Hyek and IM Dong Hyun faced off in a very tight bronze medal match. OH had been untouchable since his Olympic victory, with gold medal at this year’s first two World Cup stages; however, he suffered an upset by IM today, following his defeat to LEE in the semi-finals. Nonetheless he is qualified for the World Cup Final. IM Dong Hyun, who has been one of the top archers of the last decade, earns his first individual podium of the season today.
In the mixed team final, Italy suffered a severe defeat against Korea (photo) on a field that comprised four Olympic medallists who have between them four gold, one silver and three bronze. European champions Natalia VALEEVA and Mauro NESPOLI suffered under the gusting winds. The pair made of YUN Ok Hee and OH Jin Hyek, shooting together for the first time, finally gave Korea its first mixed team gold of the season after bronze in Shanghai and silver in Antalya. It is the third medal of the day for YUN, after the individual gold and the team silver.
In the bronze medal match, LIN Shih-Chia and CHEN Hsin-Fu, shooting the mixed team event together for the first time for Chinese Taipei, had an easy victory against Japan. Yuki HAYASHI, paired with Olympic silver medallist Takaharu FURUKAWA, suffered a 2 under gusty winds in the second end. With a victory 145-134, LIN and CHEN gave their country its first mixed team podium in over a year.
World Archery Communication
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