Eighteen-year-old An San books Moscow ticket with impressive victory at debut international

Korea’s An San defeated teammate Jeon Ina in straight sets at the fourth stage of the 2019 Hyundai Archery World Cup in Berlin to win her first international gold medal and book a place at the season-ending final in Moscow on 6-7 September.

“It was so good and I am happy that I finished with gold at my first international match. Especially finishing so well,” said An. “I am so lucky. I will go to Russia for the first time. I hope to do well.” 

The 18-year-old was in formidable form, dropping only two points throughout the match as she shot sets of 29, 29 and a perfect-30 points to beat Jeon’s 27.6 average.

“I was looking forward to that match in the arena and it gives me so much confidence to have shot 30 points,” added An. “It was cold and hard because of the wind, but I really had fun.”

An San had an impeccable campaign in Berlin, her senior debut. She seeded first after the windy ranking round and won all but one of her elimination matches without dropping a set point.

With victory in Berlin, An San books a spot at the 2019 Hyundai Archery World Cup Final, where she joins world number one Kang Chae Young representing Korea in the eight-athlete recurve women’s tournament.

The recurve women’s bronze medal match between Tan Ya-Ting of Chinese Taipei and An Qixuan of China was also decided in three sets. The vastly experienced archer from Taipei never had a set score below 28 points; An Qixuan never topped 26.

An San, paired with London 2012 Olympic Champion Oh Jin Hyek, also beat Moldova's Alexandra Mirca and Dan Olaru to the recurve mixed team gold medal, 6-2. Italy took bronze.

The fourth stage of the 2019 Hyundai Archery World Cup takes place on 1-7 July in Berlin, Germany.