South Korean women win gold number seven

30 Jul 2012, 6:15 am   -   Source: Reuters
South Korea's archers (L-R) Choi Hyeonju, Ki Bo-bae and Lee Sung-jin celebrate their victory over China in the women's archery team gold medal match at the Lords Cricket Ground during the London 2012 Olympic Games July 29, 2012. REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

South Korea's archers (L-R) Choi Hyeonju, Ki Bo-bae and Lee Sung-jin celebrate their victory over China in the women's archery team gold medal match at the Lords Cricket Ground during the London 2012 Olympic Games July 29, 2012. REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

LONDON (Reuters) - South Korea won the Olympic women's team archery title for the seventh consecutive time on Sunday after beating China in the final at Lord's cricket ground.

LONDON (Reuters) - South Korea won the Olympic women's team archery title for the seventh consecutive time on Sunday after beating China in the final at Lord's cricket ground.

The Korean trio of Ki Bo-bae, Lee Sung-jin and Choi Hyeon-ju scored 210 points from their 24 arrows to beat the Chinese by a single point. Each arrow can score a maximum of 10 points by hitting the centre of a target 70 metres away.

For the second day in a row, the gold medal came down to the very last arrow, Ki needing a nine or better to win the match. She nailed the nine to spark celebrations with her team mates and coach.

South Korea's gold medal will be met with elation and relief back home after the men's team, champions in Sydney, Athens and Beijing, had to settle for bronze after losing to the United States in the semi-final.

South Korea's women have now won 13 of the last 14 archery gold medals and will be heavy favourites to add to their tally in the individual event.

Choi said that their success had given rise to such expectation in South Korea that coming home without the gold was virtually inconceivable.

"It's true people tend to think that we should always win the women's archery gold medal, but at the same time that pressure has made us more determined to reach our goals," she added.

"Britain is such a long way from Korea and coming here was so difficult. The hardest thing was dealing with the changeable weather, but really it's been the greatest honour to take part in the Olympics in London."

For the Chinese, it was the third Olympics in a row where they finished second best to the South Koreans.

Cheng Ming said it was a great experience to face the Koreans, but getting the silver left her with mixed feelings.

"First of all I'm excited, but at the same time it's such a shame, a pity," she added. "In the individual event I will accumulate more experience."

Japan beat Russia to win the bronze medal match. It was the first women's archery medal for Japan at an Olympics.

(Editing by Kevin Liffey and Justin Palmer)

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