South Korea outshot Russia 218-211 to capture an easy victory in women's team at the Olympic archery test tournament staged in Beijing on Tuesday.

 

In the bronze medal match, Georgia's last arrow flew out of the track to nail a five, handing out the nearly-reserved podium place to United States by 210-211.

 

South Korea sent an overwhelming squad of world champions. South Koreans announced out in preliminaries by taking up three of the top four places. They are here preparing to defend their unbeaten Olympic gold run beginning when the team event was introduced in 1988.

 

Park Sung Hyun along with strong teammates Choi Eun Young and Lee Tuk Young are the team to beat. They are the world championships winners last month in Leipzig of Germany.

 

They stood out even without realistic challenges from Russians over consecutive "well dones" heard in the field.

 

Park hoped to witness a similar situation as Tuesday's outcome next year on Olympics. "I am very happy for we won the team title, but it's a pity that it's not a real Olympics competition," said Park.

 

"It's a hot day. We overcame the suffocating heat to win, and I hope the experience here help us to do well next year."

 

Park holds complexed feelings over China's early exit. "Chinese team is not in form today. Maybe it's because of a physical problem or a little out of luck, they were eliminated in first round," said Park.

 

"If the Chinese reached the final, it will be an ebullient scenario with a lot of spectators watching. The spectators are a motivator for us to shoot well.

 

"But I also hope not to meet Chinese. They are tough to deal with as we met them in the Athens Olympic Games final."

 

United States edged out Georgia by surprise in one-ring superiority. Georgia led the bronze medal match by three points before the last arrow, but a nervous five ring from Khatuna Narimanidze cost Georgia a medal after Karen Scavotto quivered a nine ring.

"We did very well today. Georgia shot well and we shot consistently. We won by one point, so we are all pleased with the competition," said Jennifer Nichols.

 

The Olympic archery test event is one of a series of pre-Olympic trials in the run-up to the Beijing Olympics.

 

There are 113 archers from 27 nations and regions taking part in the "Good Luck Beijing" Olympic archery test slated for August 20-26.

 

(Xinhua News Agency August 22, 2007)