Such is the depth of the Korean archery team that reigning Olympic champion Chang Hye Jin has found herself out of the nation’s recurve squad for the upcoming season.
Hye Jin was eliminated during the most recent selection stage, which finished this weekend. Also out of the team is Im Dong Hyun, their longest-standing squad member of the squad and an Olympic medallist at three Games.
Dong Hyun had previously indicated his international retirement after not making the final twenty at the selection trials.
Korea traditionally picks eight men and eight women that form the team that trains at the national centre for the year, rather than at their professional clubs. The best three archers are then selected for major events like the worlds and, this year, the Olympic Games.
Despite missing the heralded duo, world numbers one and three respectively – Kang Chae Young and Kim Woojin, headline the rosters.
London 2012 Olympic Champion Oh Jin Hyek, 2013 World Archery Champion Lee Seugyun and the impressive Lee Woo Seok have made the cut for the men’s roster.
The emerging young star of 2019, An San, joins the experienced Jung Dasomi in the women’s line-up.
Ryoo Su Jung, who became only the second woman in history to shoot 1400-plus points on the four-distance 1400 Round but has yet to make her mark on the international team, is also in the squad.
Korea will conduct its in-squad trials over the next month until the final three-athlete teams for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games are selected on 23 April.
Korean squad for 2021
Men: Kim Woojin, Kim Pil-Joong, Park Juyong, Han Woo Tack, Kim Je Deok, Oh Jin Hyek, Lee Seungyun, Lee Woo Seok
Women: Kang Chae Young, Ryoo Su Jung, Jung Dasomi, An San, Jang Minhee, Choi Minseon, Lim Hyejin
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