Race for LA28 quotas intensifies as Asian Games field cut to last eight
All four top seeds – Kang Chaeyoung, Liao Jiahao and Indian duo Dhiraj Bommadevara and Chikitha Taniparthi – advanced to the quarterfinals after navigating the early elimination rounds at the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture.
But there were also upsets, with established names making early exits.
Korea’s second seed Kim Je Deok, a three-time Olympic gold medallist, was stunned 6-2 by Indian debutant Neeraj Chauhan in the recurve men’s individual event.
In compound women, Hangzhou 2022 triple gold medallist Jyothi Surekha Vennam was knocked out 150-146 by 14-year-old Kang Yeonseo, who sits 72 places below the world number four Indian in the world rankings.
Yeonseo’s run was the highlight of Monday’s compound eliminations as she became the first under-18 women’s archer to shoot a perfect score in a 15-arrow match, hitting six Xs in her 150.
Remarkably, she did it twice.
The Korean teenager’s round of 16 victory over Mongolia’s Otgonbayar Dagdanjav was also a perfect 150 as she won 150-133.
Her performance also set a new under-18 world record for the compound women’s match, improving the previous mark of 149 set by USA’s Zoie Thompson at the Buckeye Classic in Dublin, Ohio, in 2021.
The record is pending ratification by World Archery.
Kang has already made headlines by becoming the youngest member of the Korean senior team and has continued to impress in her rookie season on the international circuit.
Her World Cup debut season has already included compound women’s team bronze at the fourth stage of Hyundai Archery World Cup in Madrid alongside Park Jungyoon and Park Yerin.
Chauhan, meanwhile, will join Bommadevara among the eight recurve men still in contention for Saturday’s individual final and the two quota places available for the LA28 Olympic Games.
The Indian pair, alongside Yashdeep Bhoge, have also advanced to the recurve men’s team semifinal, where they will face Iran for a place in the final and a chance to secure the lone team quota place available in the category.
In total, archers representing six countries – India and Bhutan with two athletes each, alongside Chinese Taipei, Uzbekistan, Korea and Japan – remain in contention for the two individual recurve men’s quota spots by reaching the final.
Five nations also remain in the hunt for the Olympic spots in recurve women: Korea, Chinese Taipei and China with two athletes each, alongside India and Japan.
India’s 17-year-old Kumkum Anil Mohod also impressed on her Asian Games debut, advancing to the recurve women’s quarterfinals after defeating Bangladesh’s Saima Salah Suddin 6-0.
The home expectation will rest on world number 16 Junya Nakanishi and 72nd ranked Nanami Asakuno for a place in the recurve men's and women's individual finals, respectively.
Nakanishi, who finished runner-up to Bommadevara at the World Cup Final in Saltillo, Mexico two weeks ago, will be looking to carry home hopes of a podium finish and an LA28 quota place.
Competition continues at the Asian Games with the compound team and mixed team finals.
Second picture courtesy: Korea Archery Association Facebook page
