By Yoon Chul
South Korean women’s archery team snatched the gold medal in the women’s team competition overcoming strong contender China at the end of extended round, Sunday.
The traditional archery powerhouse totaled 278 points beating host country (275) after taking two extra rounds.
Korea won the women’s team competition for the fourth straight Asian Games.
“I had lots of pressure because I am the first woman head coach in the history,” Korean head coach Cho Eun-sin said.
“I was surprised that the Chinese did so well. As I didn’t want to lose, I told my ladies ‘don’t be nervous.’” Cho said.
The South Korean team composed of Joo Hyun-jung, Ki bo-bae and Yun Oh-hee showed their accuracy shooting three 10s in the first three shots and took the lead in the first end with 57-56.
But Koreans, suddenly stumbled in the second end.
Korea, which shot 10 four times in the first end, didn’t hit the 10 in the second end, collecting only 53 and they allow the lead to go to China by one.
In the third end Korean earned a full-score in three of six shots but as Joo hit seven totaling 165, the Chinese extended the margin to three.
In the final end, Koreans retook their own performance hitting two 10s and one nine in the first three shots to equalize the game while the Chinese aimed at two nines and one eight.
Joo, however, stumbled in a decisive moment shooting eight, again.
Before last shooter Shanshan Zhu aimed, Korea was one point ahead of Korea but she hit nine leading the game to extra round.
In the first three extended round Korea and China collected 28 of 30 points, but in the second extended round all three Korean shooters hit the 10 achieving a full score.
Meanwhile Chinese second shooter Yunlu Zhang hit the seven for silver medal.