Jeon Ina scores 688 points to seed top at Tokyo 2020 Olympic test event

Korea’s Jeon Ina ranked top over recurve women’s qualification at the Ready Steady Tokyo test event for next year’s Olympic Games with 688 out of a possible 720 points for the 72-arrow 70-metre round.

It is the second-highest score shot internationally this year, trailing only Kang Chae Young’s world record of 692 from the world championships.

“I was shooting with confidence and thinking about the experience, about going to the Olympics and coming back to this field,” said Jeon. “This tournament is a great experience. I might not have a chance to come to the Olympics next year, so I prepared even harder for it.”

The 25-year-old scored 13 points more than her nearest competitor, Korean teammate An San on 675.

An beat Jeon in the recurve women’s gold medal match at the fourth stage of the 2019 Hyundai Archery World Cup in Berlin last weekend. That event was both archers’ international debut and both are part of the Korean reserve squad in 2019.

Jeon has her sights firmly set on graduating to the first team.

I really want to go to the Games next year,” she said. “Korea is preparing hard for the Olympics and if I have a chance to go then I think I can try and keep the top place in qualifying.”

Chinese Taipei’s Tan Ya-Ting was third over qualification with 671 points.

Fourth-seeded Deepika Kumari and 14th seed Elena Richter were separated by just eight points. Kumari scored 668 and Richter had 660.

Reigning Olympic Champion Chang Hye Jin scored 664 and ranked 10th.

Sixty-four recurve women will compete in the Olympic competition at Tokyo 2020.

There is no cut to make the eliminations, every athlete advances to matchplay, and there is no top-eight bye as there now is at other international tournaments like stages of the Hyundai Archery World Cup.

This test event will run to the same format. Every match will be shot separately in the arena.

The Ready Steady Tokyo test event takes place on 11-18 July 2019 in the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic venue in Tokyo, Japan.