LONDON (Yonhap) -- South Korea captured gold medal in
the women's team archery at the London Olympics Sunday, extending
the country's unbeaten streak in the discipline to seven.
In a rematch of the final at the 2008 Beijing Games, South
Korea edged China 210-209. Needing at least a 9 for gold with the
final arrow, South Korean Ki Bo-bae delivered just that for the
nail-biting win.
In a heavy downpour at the start, South Korea was slow out of
the gate. Leadoff Lee Sung-jin shot a 7, and Ki followed Choi
Hyeon-ju's 8 with a 6 that stunned hundreds of South Korean fans in
the stands at Lord's Cricket Ground.
China failed to take advantage, however, as Cheng Ming, Xu Jing
and Fang Yuting managed 8-7-8 for a slim two-point lead. The
Koreans pulled away in their next three arrows with 9-9-10, while
Xu and Fang each shot a 7 to put China back by two.
In team archery events, three archers each take two shots per
end, or set. Teams compete in four ends for a total of 24 arrows.
China drew even 102-102 after two ends, capitalizing on Ki's 8
with her final shot of the end. But South Korea regained the lead
at 156-154 after three ends, as four of China's six shots in that
end found 8s.
South Korea led 184-182 with three arrows remaining, and China
closed out with three straight 9s. After Lee hit a 9, Choi, who up
to that point had fired five 10s in a row, slipped to an 8 and
forced Ki to hit 9 or better for the gold.
Ki, her opening 6 a distant memory, calmly hit the winning shot
for the country's second gold in London.
South Korea has now won every gold in women's archery team
event since it became a medal sport at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. The
victory Sunday followed the male team's bronze medal a day earlier.
The trio of Im Dong-hyun, Kim Bub-min and Oh Jin-hyek lost to the
U.S. in the semifinals and beat Mexico for bronze.
In the typically fickle British weather, the rain came down
hard in the early part of the match before giving ways to sunshine.
By the time the South Korean archers reached the top of the podium,
the sun shone as brightly as the gold medals around their necks.
Ki said she had glanced at the scoreboard before walking up to
the line for her clinching shot, fully aware of the score she
needed to shoot.
"I knew I wouldn't have any problems as long as I stuck to my
routine," the 24-year-old said. "I am just so happy that I've won
such a special medal."
For Lee, who had won the 2004 Athens Olympics gold in the team
event, the victory completes a career turnaround. After winning the
team gold and the individual silver in Greece, Lee swept up two
titles at the 2005 world championships. But a shoulder injury
suffered in 2007 put a once-promising career in jeopardy, before
she survived the notoriously difficult South Korean national team
trials for London.
"It's hard to compare the two gold medals (between London and
Athens), because I've come a long way for this title," said Lee,
who's had right shoulder problems for years. "I am just so relieved now."
In London, it was Choi who had shoulder issues. In Friday's
ranking round that determined seeds, Ki and Lee took the first two
spots, but Choi ended in 21st. Choi said she still felt she could
turn things around in time for the team competition.
"I knew I was a slower starter than others, and I never once
thought I couldn't get the jobe done," Choi said. "I had the
confidence and I was determined never to give up."
Jang Young-sool, head coach of the archery delegation, said the
female archers had been struggling in their buildup to the Olympics
and praised them for coming through in clutch.
"This gold medal has come at an especially difficult time,
compared to the previous team gold medals," he said. "We were well
prepared for rainy conditions. The weather didn't worry me a bit."
한국 여자양궁, 단체전서 중국 꺾고 金
한국이 여자양궁 단체전에서 올림픽 7연패의 위업을 이뤘다.
한국은 29일(현지시간) 영국 런던의 로즈 크리켓 그라운드에서 열린 런던올림픽 결승전에 이성진(전북도청), 최현주(창원시청), 기보배(광주광역시청)가 출전해 중국을 210-209로 꺾었다.
이로써 한국은 1988년 서울, 1992년 바르셀로나, 1996년 애틀랜타, 2000년 시드 니, 2004년 아테네, 2008년 베이징 올림픽에 이어 대회 7연패를 달성했다.
한국은 1988년 서울 대회에서 단체전이 도입된 이후 여자부에서 한 차례도 타이 틀을 놓치지 않았다.
결승전 시작 직전부터 폭우가 쏟아졌지만 '태극 낭자'들의 기술과 집중력이 빛난 한판이었다.
한국은 첫 세 발을 7점, 8점, 6점 과녁에 맞혀 불안한 출발을 보였다.
청밍, 수징, 펑위팅이 차례로 나선 중국도 첫 세 발이 8점, 7점, 8점에 그쳤다.
그러나 한국은 바로 '오조준(誤照準)'에 적응하며 1엔드에 남은 세 발을 9점, 9점, 10점에 꽂아넣었다.
중국은 에이스 청밍이 10점을 쏘았으나 수징과 펑위팅이 7점에 맞혀 한국에 2점 차로 뒤졌다.
빗줄기가 가늘어지자 양상이 바뀌었다.
중국은 집중력을 되찾아 추격을 시작했고 한국은 2엔드를 중국과 똑같은 102-10 2로 마쳤다.
후반전인 3엔드가 시작되면서 비가 그쳤다.
해결사로 나선 것은 대표팀의 맏언니 최현주였다.
최현주는 3엔드부터 4엔드 초반까지 세 발을 연속으로 10점 과녁에 꽂아넣어 한 국이 근소한 리드를 지키는 데 큰 역할을 했다.
마지막 세 발을 남기고 한국은 중국에 184-182, 2점 차로 앞섰다.
살이 떨릴 정도로 긴장된 순간에 담력이 센 쪽이 이기는 '러시안룰렛'이 시작됐다.
중국은 9점, 9점, 9점을 쏘아 209점으로 경기를 마쳤다.
한국은 이성진이 9점을 쏘았으나 2엔드부터 5차례 연속 10점을 쏜 최현주가 뜻밖에 8점에 그치고 말았다.
마지막 한 발이 9점을 쏘면 이기고 8점을 쏘면 연장전 슛오프로 끌려가야 하는 긴장된 순간이 왔다.
기보배가 차분하게 사대에 올라 날린 화살이 깨끗하게 9점 과녁에 꽂혀 한국은 210-209로 짜릿한 승리를 낚았다.
일본은 준결승전에서 한국에 패한 뒤 3, 4위 결정전에서 러시아를 209-207로 꺾 고 동메달을 차지했다.
한국에서 실업선수 생활을 하다가 일본에 귀화한 하야카와 렌(엄혜련)은 일본의 세 번째 궁사로 나와 에이스 역할을 톡톡히 했다.
하야카와는 막판 접전에서 마지막 화살로 골드를 뚫어 러시아 궁사들이 8점 두 발을 쏘며 스스로 무너지게 만들었다.
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