Earl Benjamin Yap from Philippines upset Kim Dong-kyu of South
Korea 116-114 in the final to win the men's compound gold at the
Asian Archery Championships in Xi'an on Monday.
"It was a very unexpected victory for me," said Yap, who edged
past top-ranked Reza Zamaninejad of Iran 113-112 before beating the
second-seeded South Korean in the final. "I have practiced only 11
days before this tournament."
Yap, the fifth finisher at the ranking round, runs an archery
shop and also teaches archery in his home country.
"I have won three gold medals in Asian Grand Prix, but this one
is bigger, because all top archers (from Asia) have come to play,"
Yap added. "It is also the first time that I win against a South
Korean player."
Kim took home the silver while Zamaninejad beat defending
champion Cai Shuo of China 122-121 for the bronze.
"We are very satisfied with the result," said China coach Wang
Jizhong. "Cai did a very good job in this tournament."
"Asian archers have improved very rapidly in this event in the
last two years, our goal for Cai was to enter top four," Wang
added. "Actually Cai had over-bar performance today."
Earlier on Monday, Lee Sung-jin of South Korea grabbed the gold
medal for the women's recurve.
(Xinhua News Agency September 18, 2007)