India top Korean compound men in Asian Games final

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The Indian compound men shot a consistent final. A wayward seven from Korea’s Min Lihong in the fourth end sealed the favourites’ loss, 227-225.

Despite an Asian Games that has largely not lived up to expectations for the cross-sport Indian delegation, the nation’s compound archery team has performed well. “We’ve noticed India’s position in the medal table each day,” said Rajat Chauhan, according to official blogger The Infinite Curve. “And we were determined to win gold today.”

India travelled to the States to prepare for Incheon, training at the new Easton Centre in Salt Lake City with Reo Wilde’s father, Dee.

The preparation paid off.

As did Korea’s: known for their rise to recurve archery fame in the Olympics over 30 years ago, the nation started an international compound programme as soon as it was announced the discipline would be included at Incheon, two and a half years ago.

The first-ever compound gold medal of the Asian Games went to the Korean women’s team. The trio beat Chinese Taipei during the first scheduled finals match of the programme.

Their team had dominated the competition since the start and set a new 24-arrow match world record earlier in the week.

Two members of the winning women’s team contested the individual title, as well: Seok Ji Hyun and Choi Bomin – Shanghai World Cup stage winner this year – swapped the lead until the end.

Choi shot a perfect 30 to close the match and win by a point, 144-143 – and received the first individual Asian Games compound gold from World Archery President Prof Dr Ugur Erdener.

India had the chance at a second gold in the men’s individual final – but Abhishek Verma couldn’t beat Iran’s Esmaeil Ebadi. Esmaeil had qualified in first and Abhishek was erratic in the gold medal match.

The Philippines’ Paul Marton de la Cruz had men’s individual bronze, Trisha Deb the women’s individual – after her opponent unexpectedly missed in her penultimate arrow – and team with India.

Esmaeil’s Iran came third in the compound men’s team event.

Korea leads the Incheon medal table, with two golds and a silver, ahead of India – also on four total. With Iran, Chinese Taipei and the Philippines also recording podium finishes in the compound competition and Malaysia and China guaranteed recurve medals tomorrow, more countries will collect Asian Games archery medals than ever before.

Whether the final tally includes Japan remains to be seed. The Olympic hosts in 2020 have plenty to prove, and four chances at a medal: both recurve teams shoot for bronze while Hayakawa Ren and Hideki Kikuchi qualified for the individual last fours.