Women Archers: Streak Ends
By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
China's Zhang Juan Juan humiliated South Korea's women archers as she won a gold medal in the individual competition at the Beijing Olympics Thursday.
The Chinese archer defeated defending Olympic champion Park Sung-hyun of South Korea 110-109 in the final at the Olympic Green Archery Field in Beijing.
Her victory ended South Korea's streak of six straight gold medals in women's individual archery. Before Thursday's debacle, the country had won every possible team and individual women's gold in the sport since the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
Zhang, 27, beat two other Koreans earlier in the day. She defeated Joo Hyun-jung in the quarterfinals and Yun Ok-hee, the No. 1-ranked women in the world, in the semifinals.
In the final, Park, who was seeking her fourth Olympic gold, was one point behind Zhang after the third end.
The defending Olympic champion hit the bull's eye twice in the final end, but it was not enough to deter Zhang, who was surrounded by local fans.
Yun took the bronze medal match 109-106 against Kwon Un-sil of North Korea.
In judo, Jeong Gyeong-mi won the bronze medal in the women's under-78 kilogram division by beating Brazil's Edinanci Silva with an ippon.
Earlier in the day, Jeong defeated European Champion Heide Wollert of Germany, but fell to Cuba's Yalennis Castillo in the semifinals.
Athens silver medalist Jang Sung-ho lost in the quarterfinals of the men's under-100 kilogram competition.
In badminton, Lee Hyun-il stunned third-seeded Bao Chunlai of China 23-21, 21-11 in the men's singles quarterfinals and will face world No. 2 Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia in the semifinals.
Lee Hyo-jung and Lee Yong-dae breezed into the semifinals in the mixed doubles after ousting Britain's Gail Emms and Nathan Robertson 21-19, 21-12.
Gymnast Yang Tae-young failed to win a medal in the men's individual all-around final.
Yang, 28, was second behind favorite Yang Wei of China before his final event, pommel horse, but garnered 14.300 points to plummet to eighth with 91.600 points, finishing 2.975 behind the Chinese gymnast.
Yang took a bronze medal in the event four years ago.
Kim Dae-eun finished 11th in Beijing with a 90.775 points.
The Korean women's table tennis team downed Australia 3-0 in the team competition qualifier.
In their second qualifier of Group D, Park Mi-young won 11-6, 11-4, 15-17, 11-3 over Miao Miao, and Chinese-born Dang Ye-seo shut out Sang Stephanie Xu. Kim Kyung-ah and Park wrapped up the match by winning in doubles.
South Korea's baseball qualifier against China was postponed until Sunday due to rain.