Korean junior archers Jeong Taeyeong, Han Jaeyeop, Heo Jaewoo and Kim Kyoungeun all collected medals during recurve finals at the 2017 World Archery Youth Championships in Rosario, Argentina.
First seeded after qualification with 1990 points, Korea’s junior men’s team of Jeong Taeyeong, Han Jaeyeop, Heo Jaewoo took a clean victory over India in the final.
“We have a good team bond and we enjoy ourselves when we shoot together, I think that’s our secret to win. We’re very united, we work hard and we’re disciplined,” said Heo.
Rosario is the nation’s seventh title in the category.
Twenty-year-old Kim Kyoungeun gave Korea its second gold junior medal after beating Chinese Taipei’s Kuo Ting-An in a tiebreak.
Kim lost the first two sets. Then she won the third one and split the fourth one with Kuo to leave the match at 5-3. Shooting a perfect 30-point last set, against Kuo’s 25, the Korean archer sent the match to a shoot-off.
Kim shot a nine, first, and Kuo an eight.
“I was very nervous when I knew I had to shoot the shoot-off, so I calmed down, looked at my teammates and coaches in the crowd and let my arrow go,” said Kim, relieved. “It was good, I’m happy to be a world junior champion.”
The last match of the youth world championships in Rosario saw two Koreans clashing for gold: second seed Jeong Taeyeong versus fifth seed and Korean junior team captain Han Jaeyeop.
Shooting three set of 29 points and a 28, to Jan’s pair of 28s, 29 and 27, Jeong claimed the junior men’s title with a 6-2 win.
The 20-year-old Jeong said: “It’s a special win because I was shooting against my teammate Han Jaeyeop. Winning always makes me happy, but to have done it with him by my side even more.”
“Before going into the arena, we cheered each other on and wished each other the best of luck.”
Jeong is Korea’s fourth man to win the junior title.
The 2017 World Archery Youth Championships run 2 to 10 October in Rosario, Argentina.
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