Chinese Zhang Juanjuan beat South Korean Park Sung-Hyun 110-109 to win the women's individual archery gold medal at the Olympic Games?in?Beijing?on Thursday. South Korean Yun Ok-hee downed DPR Korean Kwon Un-sil 109-106 for the bronze medal.
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Gold medalist Zhang Juanjuan(C) of China, silver medalist Park Sung-Hyun(R) and bronze medalist Yun Ok-Hee, both of the Republic of Korea, stand on the podium at the awarding ceremony of the women's individual final of archery at Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, Aug. 14, 2008. Zhang claimed the title in this event with a total of 110.[Gesang Dawa/Xinhua] |
Zhang alone brought down one of the greatest kingdoms built by South Korean women's archers who had won every Olympic gold since the 1984 Games.
Zhang brushed aside all three South Koreans in her way to the Olympic victory. The two-time Olympian staged a tit-for-tat battle against the reigning champion and No. 1 seed Park, preventing South Koreans from extending their domain to a seven straight Olympics.
In the semifinal, Zhang defeated world record holder Yun Ok-hee 115-109. The mark of 115 was also an Olympic record tying result.
All three South Koreans took the top three positions in the ranking round and Zhang only managed a lowly 29th place.
In the bronze medal match, Yun Ok-hee beat DPR Korean Kwon Un-sil 109-106.
The victory for Zhang is China's first Olympic gold in archery.
(Xinhua News Agency August 14, 2008)