Korean recurve women beat Mexico to Berlin gold

The Korean trio of Olympic Champion Chang Hye Jin, Choi Misun and Kang Chae Young defeated Mexico in straight sets, 6-0, to claim the recurve women’s gold medal at the fourth and final stage of the 2017 Hyundai Archery World Cup in Berlin, Germany.

“We have been to three World Cups this year and this is our first team gold medal of the season,” said Chang. “We have been working hard as a team, so we’re happy and I think this will lead us to good results.”

“If we keep going like we did here, I wouldn’t doubt that the Korean team will defend the title,” Choi added, referring to the upcoming World Archery Championships in Mexico City.

Chang, Choi and Kang qualified with a total of 2017 points to rank as first seeds, 59 and ahead of second seed India and 64 up on third-ranked Germany.

They beat Azerbaijan and Ukraine in straight sets, then met Russia in the semis (the team the Koreans beat in the most recent Olympic final), and won again, 5-1.

Against the hosts of the 2017 World Archery Championships – represented by Alejandra Valencia, Aida Roman and Mariana Avitia – the Korean women scored a pair of 53s and a 58, against Mexico’s 51, 49 and 52.

“It has been two years since I got gold medal and I’m so excited that we got this gold in the team competition as well,” said Kang, who also shoots for the individual title in Berlin against Mexican archer Valencia.

Russia beat seventh seed Great Britain to recurve women’s team bronze, 6-2.

The Korean men’s team of Oh Jin Hyek, Im Dong Hyun and Kim Woojin beat Russia in four sets, 5-3, to pickup recurve men’s bronze. They were defeated by France in the semifinals earlier in the week.

Oh Jin Hyek received massages of his right shoulder during the match, from teammates, because the muscle was tense and causing pain while he was shooting. He had been seen wearing an ice pack throughout the week.

The fourth stage of the 2017 Hyundai Archery World Cup runs 8 to 13 August in Berlin, Germany.