(Asiad) Compound archer regroups to win individual gold after disappointing team performance

Compound archer Kim Jong-ho experienced a rollercoaster of emotions following a disappointing performance by South Korea's men's team at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Struggling to sleep on Wednesday night, he reflected on how his own shortcomings cost the team a chance at the gold medal. In compound archery, an 8 is a coveted score, achieved by only a select few. Despite shooting two 8s in the semifinal loss to India and another 8 in the bronze medal match against Chinese Taipei, Kim's team couldn't secure the top spot.

However, his individual hopes were reignited 24 hours later, as he stepped onto the stage at Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Multipurpose Square in Okazaki, just 50 kilometers southeast of Nagoya's main host city. In a nerve-wracking 15-arrow battle, Kim edged out Chinese Taipei's Chang Cheng-Wei, securing the gold medal with a score of 149-145.

Kim, now 32, described his victory as an "honor" to accomplish, emphasizing his focus on one arrow at a time. He admitted to feeling nervous and keeping his head down, staring at his feet between shots to maintain his composure.