So Chaewon leads Korean compound women to new world record

So Chaewon, Choi Bomin and World Archery Champion Song Yun Soo scored a combined 2108 out of a possible 2160 to set a new world record for the compound women’s team ranking round at the 2017 Asian Archery Championships in Dhaka, Bangladesh on 26 November.

The Korean trio’s score was 13 points higher than the previous world-best mark of 2095, shot by the USA in Shanghai in 2011.

“It was a bit windy today but that made us competitive,” said top-scorer So Chaewon, who put 10 points on her career international best with 709.

“The most crucial factor was our preparation. We practised almost perfectly all year. Our coaches coached us well and I’m very thankful to them.”

Choi Bomin scored 703 points, Song Yun Soo had 696 and fourth member of the team Kim Yunhee, who was World Archery Champion in 2015, had 694.

So, Choi and Song finished third as a team at the recent worlds in Mexico City, which Song won individually. 

Top seed So has claimed individual medals in both team and mixed team events but is still searching for her first individual victory, having climbed her first podium at the 2017 Universiade in Taipei where she won the bronze medal.

“[I need to keep doing what] I did today in the qualification round. I have to concentrate on myself, care about nothing else and don’t be greedy,” she said.

As well as awarding Asian Champion titles one year out from the important Asian Games, these championships will also award recurve cadet quota places to the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The 2017 Asian Archery Championships run 25 to 30 November in Dhaka, Bangladesh.