Teenage Archer Wins Natl Team Tryout
By Kim Jae-won
Staff Reporter
Teenager Kwak Ye-ji earned a place on the national team for The International Archery Federation (FITA) Archery World Championships after claiming top spot among eight players with 3.5 points at the national team squad competition in Seoul, Monday.
Shockingly, Beijing Olympic gold medalist Park Sung-hyun failed to make the team, after ranking seventh with 13.7 points.
Korea Archery Association (KAA) uses a system where fewer points mean a better grade.
Joo hyun-jung and Yun Ok-hee filled the other two spots for the championships, ranking second and third with 3.9 and 5.8 points, respectively.
``Tears rolled down when I grabbed the top spot,'' the 16-year-old archer said after the competition. ``I was so sad not to advance to the Beijing Olympics last year.''
Kwak missed out on a trip to the Olympics, ranking fourth behind Park, Joo and Yun at last year's competition for the Games.
``I am glad that the result is good this time. I will clinch two gold medals in the individual and team events in the world championships,'' the Taejeon Physical Education High School student vowed.
Many were astonished to see Park lose her place on the national team. Park grabbed a silver medal in the individual event and gold in the team event in Beijing. The 26-year-old veteran also claimed two gold medals in the individual and the team events at the Athens Olympics in 2004. Park has been a member of the national team for eight years since she joined the team in 2001.
``Sung-hyun could not practice fully because she had been busy due to her wedding,'' said Park's coach, North Jeolla Province team head coach Seo Oh-seok.
Park married national team member Park Kyung-mo last December. Park Kyung-mo won a gold medal in the team event at the Beijing Olympics.
Park Kyung-mo also lost his spot on the national team, after losing in the first round of qualifying on March 26.
``Sung-hyun is still the best in terms of technique. I think she can claim top spot again if she takes a rest and regains her stamina,'' Oh added.
On the men's side, Im Dong-hyun, Lee Chang-hwan and Oh Jin-hyek punched their tickets for the championships.
Kwak and the rest of the Korean team will have the chance to compete against the world on home soil. The world championships will be held in Ulsan from Sept. 1 to 9.