Kang Chae-young wins gold in women's recurve at archery worlds

Kang Chae-young of Korea celebrates after winning gold in the women's recurve individual event at the World Archery Championships at the May 18 Democracy Plaza in Gwangju, South Jeolla Province, Friday. Yonhap

Korea's Kang Chae-young captured the gold medal in the women's recurve individual event at the World Archery Championships at home Friday, closing out the weeklong competition with a bang.

Kang beat Zhu Jingyi of China 7-3 (29-29, 29-28, 29-29, 30-30, 29-28) at the May 18 Democracy Plaza in Gwangju, Jeolla Province, for her first individual world title.

In individual recurve matches, archers each shoot three arrows per set, for a maximum score of 30 points. They earn two points for a set win and one point for a tie. The goal is to score six points first.

A member of the 2021 Olympic gold medal-winning team, Kang previously won the individual silver medal at the 2019 worlds.

Kang defeated fellow Korean An San in the semifinals earlier Friday. An went on to secure bronze for her third medal of the competition, following her silver in the mixed team event and bronze in the women's team event.

The last five world championships have now produced five different women's recurve individual champions.

Korea finished this year's worlds with two gold medals, one silver medal and three bronze medals in recurve, and one bronze medal in compound.

An, a Gwangju native, knocked off Li Jiaman of China 6-2 (27-29, 28-27, 30-26, 30-29) in the quarterfinals. Moments later, Kang beat Alejandra Valencia of Mexico 6-0 (30-29, 30-29, 27-22) in the quarterfinals to set up the all-Korean showdown against An.

Kang got the upper hand over her teammate, winning 6-4 (27-29, 29-30, 28-27, 28-27, 29-26) to advance to the final against Zhu.

On the other side of the bracket in the quarterfinals, world No. 1 Lim Si-hyeon lost to Diananda Choirunisa of Indonesia 6-4 (28-27, 25-30, 28-27, 26-8, 29-28). This was Lim's second straight quarterfinal exit at the world championships.

Lim's early elimination foiled Korea's bid for its third podium sweep in the women's recurve individual event, following 2003 and 2005.

An later beat Choirunisa 6-4 (28-27, 28-27, 27-29, 29-29, 29-29) for the bronze medal, after grabbing silver in the mixed team event and bronze in the women's team event.