(Asian Games) Archers cherish team gold after early woes

JAKARTA, Aug. 27 (Yonhap) -- Members of the South Korean women's recurve archery team went through some rough patches earlier in the Asian Games here, and those hardships made the gold medal they won together on Monday that much more meaningful. South Korea defeated Chinese Taipei by the set score of 5-3 for the gold at GBK Archery Field. Chang Hye-jin, Kang Chae-young and Lee Eun-gyeong extended the country's Asiad winning streak in the event to six. "This gold medal feels so precious because we all had to come together in difficult times," said Chang, the senior of the trio at age 31. "We all trusted each other and pulled each other through some challenges." Chang was referring to some shocking losses in earlier recurve events. Chang, world No. 1 with two Olympic gold medals to her name, lost in the quarterfinals in both the individual and mixed team events. Kang was knocked out in the semifinals of the individual event, meaning there will be no South Korean in the women's individual recurve final for the first time in the Asian Games history. "I felt terrible about disappointing people who love and support archery," Chang said. "I thought I'd destroyed people's faith in Korean archery. But I think this medal will make up for all of that. I think we will be able to grow even more after this competition." Kang said she was less nervous in the team event than she had been during her individual matches. "I trusted my teamamtes more than myself," she said. "I think we were able to come through becaue of that trust in one another." jeeho@yna.co.kr (END)