Host Korea wins gold in recurve men's team event at archery worlds

From left, Kim Je-deok, Kim Woo-jin and Lee Woo-seok of Korea celebrate after winning the gold medal in the recurve men's team event at the World Archery Championships at the May 18 Democracy Plaza in Gwangju, South Jeolla Province, Wednesday. Yonhap

The host Korea captured the gold medal in the recurve men's team event at the world championships Wednesday.

Kim Woo-jin, Lee Woo-seok and Kim Je-deok defeated the United States team of Trenton Cowles, Brady Ellison and Christian Stoddard 6-0 (56-55, 57-55, 59-56) in the men's team final of the World Archery Championships at the May 18 Democracy Plaza in Gwangju, 270 kilometers south of Seoul. The same trio that won the 2024 Olympic gold in Paris gave Korea its third straight world title in men's team.

It was Korea's first gold medal of the competition. Earlier Wednesday, Kim Woo-jin and An San won silver in the mixed team event.

In recurve team events, each archer takes two arrows per set, for a total of six arrows and a maximum score of 60 points per set for each team. Teams earn two points for a set win and one point for a tie. The goal is to reach five points first.

Korea overcame an 8 by Lee to win the first set 56-55, and the three Korean archers each hit a 10 in the second set, en route to a 57-55 win.

And with the Americans mostly shooting 9s in the third set, Korea closed out its victory with five 10s for a 59-56 win.

In the mixed team final, An and Kim lost to the Spanish team of Elia Canales and Andres Temino Mediel 6-2 (36-35, 38-37, 36-38, 37-34).

In mixed team archery matches, each member takes two arrows per set for four arrows and a maximum score of 40 points per team. A set win is worth two points and teams each get one point for a tie. The goal is to get to five points within four sets.

The Koreans opened the first set with consecutive 8s and never recovered, losing it 36-35. An hit another 8 to start the second set, and the Spanish team took it 38-37.

The Koreans bounced back in the third set but their fate was sealed after An opened the fourth set with a 7. She did not hit a 10 in the final.

Korea had won seven consecutive world titles in the mixed team competition before Wednesday.

Later Wednesday, An, Lim Si-hyeon and Kang Chae-young defeated India's Ankita Bhakat, Gatha Anandrao Khadake and Deepika Kumari 5-3 (54-51, 57-57, 54-57, 58-56) for the bronze medal in the women's team event.

Since Korea made its world championships debut in 1979, this was only the third time that the country did not reach the final in the women's recurve team event.

Thursday will feature medal matches in the men's individual event, followed by the women's individual medal matches Friday, the final day of the competition.