Korean doubles world champion leads Shanghai title defence

Korean compound archers Choi Bomin and Kim Jongho will shoot in the nation’s second consecutive compound mixed team final at the first stage of the 2018 Hyundai Archery World Cup circuit in Shanghai, China.

Jongho has won titles at the last two world championships in the pairs event, first with Kim Yunhee in 2015 and then with Song Yun Soo in 2017.

Both Kim and Song became individual world champions at the same event.

Seeded first in qualification in Shanghai with 1412 out of a possible 1440 points, the combined score of each member of the pair, they beat Indonesia in the second round, 155-153, France in the quarterfinal, 158-157, and then Turkey in a tiebreaker in the semis.

“I started slow but built my confidence arrow by arrow against Turkey. We worked well together, we understand each other and this helped us,” said former recurve archer Bomin.

She added that the reason the Korean compounds were finding success was that they have a plan to become the best in the world, and they’re executing it.

“We also have trust and respect for our coaches. They are constantly studying and learning how to coach us better every day and make sure we grow as in all areas,” said Choi. “Plus travelling more has definitely helped us to become more competitive.”

In 2017, Korea won the Shanghai final in a shoot-off against Denmark.

The first stage of the Hyundai Archery World Cup takes place in Shanghai, China on 23-29 April.