So Chaewon captures one-shot opportunity to qualify for World Cup Final

So Chaewon of Korea beat the USA’s Sophia Strachan, 148-140, in the compound women’s gold medal match in Shanghai to secure the first individual victory of her career at a stage of the Hyundai Archery World Cup.

“It was the first and only chance I had to be in the finals this year and I did it. I’m very satisfied,” said So. “I wanted at least a silver medal because I’ve only won bronze before, but now I’ve got a gold – and I’m really, really happy.”

The 21-year-old Korean archer had three individual third-place finishes last season – in Shanghai, Antalya and at the 2018 Hyundai Archery World Cup Final.

She looked in complete control of her first gold medal match.

Chaewon dropped her second arrow into the nine but followed it with eight straight in the middle. Her 10th shot landed a centimetre high and right of the 10-ring, but that was all the points she dropped.

There are very few compound archers who would be unhappy with a 15-arrow match of 148, especially in the arena. And Strachan couldn’t keep up with her Korean opponent; she was four points behind after nine arrows and finished with a deficit of eight.

The Korean compound team is only attending Shanghai this year, meaning the tournament was the only chance for its athletes to secure tickets to the Hyundai Archery World Cup Final.

(Under the rules introduced at the start of 2018, stage winners qualify automatically.)

Strachan’s teammate for the USA Alexis Ruiz recovered from a two-point shortfall after the first end to beat Luo Sha of China, 147-146, in the compound women’s bronze medal match.

She and teammate Matt Sullivan also took their second consecutive mixed team title of the season.

The second stage of the 2019 Hyundai Archery World Cup takes place on 6-12 May in Shanghai, China.