Top-ranked archer suffers stunning defeat in individual event

Kim Woo-jin, the No. 1-ranked male archer from South Korea, was upset in the second round of the individual event at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics Monday.

Kim fell to Riau Ega Agatha of Indonesia by the set score of 6-2 (27-29, 28-27, 27-24, 28-27). In the set system, each set consists of three arrows. A set win is worth two points and a draw is worth one point. The first archer to reach six points wins the match.

Kim helped South Korea win the men's team gold medal in convincing fashion on Saturday, and also set a 72-arrow world record with 700 points in Friday's ranking round.

Against Ega Agatha, Kim took the first set 29-27, thanks to a pair of 10s. In the second set, however, Kim scored an uncharacteristic 7 with his second arrow, losing 28-27.

Suddenly off his mark, Kim shot three consecutive 8s in the third set, while the Indonesian hit three 9s in a row.

Ega Agatha hit back-to-back 10s to close out the match in the fourth set, sending the shell-shocked Korean packing.

"It's disappointing," Kim said of the loss that came just 40 minutes after an easy first round victory over Gavin Ben Sutherland of Zimbabwe.

Kim, who had overcome wind and other elements to win the team gold medal, refused to blame outside conditions at Sambodromo for his trouble.

"I think I just didn't perform well," Kim added. "I've worked so hard over the past four years. The team gold medal was nice, but I am really disappointed with myself in the individual race. All of my preparations have gone for naught."

Park Chae-soon, the men's coach, said he couldn't believe Kim shot a 7 in the second set and then three consecutive 8s in the third set.

"I think this wasn't meant to be for him," Park added.

In the women's competition, defending champion Ki Bo-bae cruised into the round of 16. She said afterward Kim's departure sent a warning to the rest of the archery team.

"Before Woo-jin's matches, we were all very excited about winning two gold medals," Ki said. "I watched him lose and thought to myself, 'It could happen to me, too.' No matter whom I face, I won't ever relax." (Yonhap)