(2nd LD)(Olympics) History made in archery; surprise silver in shooting
2016/08/13 12:09
(ATTN: ADDS women's volleyball result in 24th para)
By Yoo Jee-ho
RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug. 12 (Yonhap) -- South Korea made Olympic archery history at the Rio de Janeiro Games on Friday -- which is saying something because the country seems to have been doing that for decades.
Ku Bon-chan won the men's individual gold medal, beating Jean-Charles Valladont of France 7-3 (30-28, 28-26, 29-29, 28-29, 27-26).
With Ku's victories, South Korea captured all four archery titles in Rio, an unprecedented feat in Olympic history. South Korea now has 23 archery gold medals, easily tops among all nations.
Ku became the second double gold medalist for South Korea in Rio, after fellow archer Chang Hye-jin, who won her individual gold on Thursday in addition to the team gold last weekend.
South Korean archer Ku Bon-chan celebrates his individual gold medal with the national flag at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics on Aug. 12, 2016. (Yonhap)
Ku is also the first South Korean man to win two archery gold medals at an Olympics.
Also on Friday, South Korea got an unexpected silver medal at the Olympic Shooting Centre, where Kim Jong-hyun captured silver in the men's 50m rifle prone.
He finished with 208.2 points, 1.3 behind the champion from Germany, Henri Junghaenel. The winning score of 209.5 points was an Olympic record.
Kim's main event is 50m rifle three positions. He won silver in that event at the 2012 London Olympics, and will try to win his second straight medal there on Sunday.
Kim's was the second shooting medal for South Korea in Rio.
South Korea has now won six gold medals, to go along with three silvers and four bronzes.
South Korea is in fifth place in the medal standings in gold medal order. The U.S. remained atop with 20 gold, 13 silver and 17 bronze medals, followed by China with 13 gold, 10 silver and 14 bronze medals. Britain moved up from eighth to third place with seven gold, nine silver and six bronze medals.
Elsewhere, South Korea failed to win a judo gold on Friday, and ended the Rio Games without one. It leaves with two silver and one bronze.
The last time South Korea didn't pick up a gold medal in judo was the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
In men's golf, An Byeong-hun and Wang Jeung-hun both shot 72s at the par-71, 7,128-yard Olympic Golf Course.
An is at two-under 140 after two rounds, putting himself in a four-way tie for 18th. Wang, at even 142, is tied for 30th with six others.
Marcus Fraser of Australia is the leader at 10-under.
South Korean shooter Kim Jong-hyun celebrates his silver medal in the men's 50m rifle prone event on the medal podium at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics on Aug. 12, 2016. (Yonhap)
In badminton, Lee Yong-dae and Yoo Yeon-seong, the world No. 1 in men's doubles, reached the quarterfinals after defeating Lee Sheng-Mu and Tsai Chia-Hsin of Taiwan 2-1 (18-21, 21-13, 21-18), while Ko Sung-hyun and Kim Ha-na, the No. 2-ranked pair in mixed doubles, joined the last eight after beating Jacco Arends and Selena Piek of the Netherlands 2-0 (21-10, 21-10).
Chang Ye-na and Lee So-hee also qualified for the women's doubles quarterfinals with a win over Johanna Goliszewski and Carla Nelte of Germany 2-1 (21-18, 18-21, 21-17).
In table tennis, both men's and women's team advanced to the quarterfinals after defeating Brazil and Romania respectively in their team competitions.
On the first day of track and field events, Kim Deok-hyeon failed to reach the long jump final after finishing 14th in the qualification at 7.82 meters. The top 12 jumpers or those who cleared at least 8.15 meters reached the final.
Kim reached 7.42 meters in his first attempt and went 7.76 meters in the next try before ending his qualification at 7.82 meters. He holds the Korean record of 8.22 meters. Kim will try to reach the final in triple jump on Saturday.
The South Korean women's handball team lost to France 21-17 and failed to book a spot in the quarterfinals. This is the first time that the women's side failed to pass the group stage at the Olympics.
South Korea sits in fifth place in Group B with a draw and three losses. South Korea will face Argentina on Monday, but regardless of the match result, Russia, Sweden, France and the Netherlands will advance to next round.
The South Korean women's volleyball team lost to host Brazil 3-0 (25-17, 25-13, 27-25). However, they will join the last eight regardless for their final match against Cameroon in Pool A.
North Korea, meanwhile, got its first gold medal, as weightlifter Rim Jong-sim won the women's 75kg class with a total of 274kg -- with 121kg in snatch and 153kg in clean and jerk.
In 2012, Rim won the Olympic gold in the 69kg class. She is only the second North Korean athlete, after freestyle wrestler Kim Il, to win two Olympic gold medals.
Prior to Rim's victory, North Korea had two silver and two bronze medals. North Korea is now 20th in the medal standings.
(END)
