EMC men's team sets Asian Games record in quarterfinals

Choi Yong-hee of South Korea draws his bow during the EMC mixed team round of 16 against Japan at the multipurpose plaza of Okazaki Chuo Park in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, on Sunday, at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. [Yonhap]
Choi Yong-hee of South Korea draws his bow during the EMC mixed team round of 16 against Japan at the multipurpose plaza of Okazaki Chuo Park in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, on Sunday, at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. [Yonhap]

South Korea's archery team advanced to the semifinals in all six team events at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, keeping its medal campaign firmly on track.

The EMC men's team of Choi Yong-hee (Hyundai Steel), Choi Eun-gyu (Ulsan Nam-gu Office) and Kim Jong-ho (Hyundai Steel) defeated Iran 239-234 in the quarterfinals on Sunday at the multipurpose plaza of Okazaki Chuo Park in Aichi Prefecture. The score of 239 — just one point shy of a perfect 240 — set a new Asian Games record, surpassing the previous mark of 238 set by Choi Yong-hee, Min Ri-hong and Yang Young-ho at the 2014 Incheon Games 12 years ago.

The EMC women's team of Kang Yeon-seo (Seongsa Middle School), Park Jeong-yun (Changwon City Hall) and Park Ye-rin (Korea National Sport University) tied Thailand 230-230 before winning in a shoot-off to reach the semifinals. The mixed team of Park Jeong-yun and Choi Yong-hee also advanced after overcoming Iran in a shoot-off following a 158-158 draw.

The EMC teams will compete in the semifinals and medal matches Wednesday. Both the men's and women's teams face India — a powerhouse in the EMC discipline — in the semifinals, while the mixed team takes on China for a spot in the final.

India swept all five EMC gold medals at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games. South Korea has since brought in Sergio Pani, the Italian coach who led India's EMC team at those Games, to take charge of its own EMC squad.

Kim Woo-jin of South Korea takes aim during the men's recurve team quarterfinal against Mongolia at the multipurpose plaza of Okazaki Chuo Park in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, on Sunday, at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. [Yonhap]
Kim Woo-jin of South Korea takes aim during the men's recurve team quarterfinal against Mongolia at the multipurpose plaza of Okazaki Chuo Park in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, on Sunday, at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. [Yonhap]

The recurve team also reached the semifinals in all three of its events. The men's team of Kim Woo-jin (Cheongju City Hall), Kim Je-deok (Yecheon-gun Office) and Lee Woo-seok (Kolon) defeated Mongolia 5-3 (57-51, 57-54, 55-57, 58-58).

The women's team of Kang Chae-young (Hyundai Mobis), Oh Ye-jin (Gwangju Bank) and Lee Yun-ji (Hyundai Mobis) also beat Kazakhstan 5-3 (57-47, 53-54, 56-55, 56-56).

The mixed team of Kang Chae-young and Kim Je-deok joined them in the semifinals, defeating Mongolia 5-3 (39-39, 37-38, 39-36, 39-36).

The recurve team semifinals and medal matches are scheduled for Saturday. South Korea will face Chinese Taipei in the men's event, Indonesia in the women's event, and China in the mixed event as it bids for three final berths.


yjc@heraldcorp.com