LONDON (Yonhap) -- Korea captured gold medal in the women's team archery at the London Olympics Sunday, extending the country's unbeaten streak in the discipline to seven.
In a rematch of the final at the 2008 Beijing Games, Korea edged China 210-209. Needing at least a 9 for gold with the final arrow, South Korean Ki Bo-bae delivered just that for the nail-biting win.
In a heavy downpour at the start, Korea was slow out of the gate. Leadoff Lee Sung-jin shot a 7, and Ki followed Choi Hyeon-ju's 8 with a 6 that stunned hundreds of South Korean fans in the stands at Lord's Cricket Ground.
China failed to take advantage, however, as Cheng Ming, Xu Jing and Fang Yuting managed 8-7-8 for a slim two-point lead. The Koreans pulled away in their next three arrows with 9-9-10, while Xu and Fang each shot a 7 to put China back by two.
In team archery events, three archers each take two shots per end, or set. Teams compete in four ends for a total of 24 arrows.
China drew even 102-102 after two ends, capitalizing on Ki's 8 with her final shot of the end. But South Korea regained the lead at 156-154 after three ends, as four of China's six shots in that end found 8s.
Korea led 184-182 with three arrows remaining, and China closed out with three straight 9s. After Lee hit a 9, Choi, who up to that point had fired five 10s in a row, slipped to an 8 and forced Ki to hit 9 or better for the gold.
Ki, her opening 6 a distant memory, calmly hit the winning shot for the country's second gold in London.
Korea has now won every gold in women's archery team event since it became a medal sport at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. The victory Sunday followed the male team's bronze medal a day earlier. The trio of Im Dong-hyun, Kim Bub-min and Oh Jin-hyek lost to the U.S. in the semifinals and beat Mexico for bronze.
In the typically fickle British weather, the rain came down hard in the early part of the match before giving ways to sunshine. By the time the Korean archers reached the top of the podium, the sun shone as brightly as the gold medals around their necks.
Ki said she had glanced at the scoreboard before walking up to the line for her clinching shot, fully aware of the score she needed to shoot.
"I knew I wouldn't have any problems as long as I stuck to my routine," the 24-year-old said. "I am just so happy that I've won such a special medal."
For Lee, who had won the 2004 Athens Olympics gold in the team event, the victory completes a career turnaround. After winning the team gold and the individual silver in Greece, Lee swept up two titles at the 2005 world championships. But a shoulder injury suffered in 2007 put a once-promising career in jeopardy, before she survived the notoriously difficult South Korean national team trials for London.
"It's hard to compare the two gold medals (between London and Athens), because I've come a long way for this title," said Lee, who's had right shoulder problems for years. "I am just so relieved now."
In London, it was Choi who had shoulder issues. In Friday's ranking round that determined seeds, Ki and Lee took the first two spots, but Choi ended in 21st. Choi said she still felt she could turn things around in time for the team competition.