3 April 2007 - The Koreans dishearten all their contenders again

The Koreans dishearten all their contenders again Ulsan – 3 April 2007 Park Kyung Mo (KOR)    This afternoon put an end to the Qualification Rounds of the first World Cup event of the season. The Recurve Men and Compound Women divisions finished shooting their last two distances (50m and 30m). Once again the best archers proved to be the Koreans. Shooting at home they seem to be even more unbeatable!   Last year’s World Cup winner Park Kyung Mo (KOR) confirmed he will be the “Man to beat” this year in the male Recurve division. At the end of the Qualification Rounds he stands out at first place with 1337 points in front of his team-mates Im Dong Hyun (1330), Jang Yong Ho (1325) and Kim Sung Hoon (1318). Another Korean Lee Chang Hwan is then seeded sixth.   In the middle of this group of Koreans we find Michele Frangilli at rank 5. The 31-year old Italian is closely supported by Olympic Champion Marco Galiazzo who is seeded 8th. 2007 World Cup silver medallist Ilario Di Buo finds himself set a little back in the 22nd position but is still to be counted on. With team-mates Frangilli and Galiazzo he is second in the team’s competition with a total of 3879 points, far behind Korea (3972) but way ahead of seed 3 -Great Britain (3826).      Jamie Van Natta (USA) The Compound Women event shows the American Jamie Van Natta (1372 points) digging a gap with her first pursuer and compatriot Jahna Davis (1356). Van Natta does not seem to be jetlagged although she arrived in Ulsan late last night! Behind the two Americans we find 2006 World Cup silver medallist Anna Kazantseva from Russia ranked third, while 2006 European Champion Camilla Soemod from Denmark is fourth.   This group is immediately followed by two surprising Korean Compound archers Seo Jung Hee and Kim Hyo Sun. The Philippines also make their appearance in the top 10 with Amaya Paz and Jennifer Chan seeded 7th and 10th respectively. As for the first ever World Cup winner, Russian Sofia Goncharova, she is lying in ambush at 8th position.   Let’s wait and see tomorrow what the Elimination Rounds offer!   Ludivine Maitre Wicki FITA Communications