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Choi Yong-hee takes bronze in compound for host Korea's 1st medal at archery worlds

Published: 08 Sep. 2025, 18:30

Choi Yong-hee of Korea celebrates after winning the bronze medal in the men's individual compound event at the World Archery Championships at the May 18 Democracy Plaza in Gwangju on Sept. 8. [YONHAP]

Choi Yong-hee grabbed a bronze medal in the men's individual compound event for the host Korea's first medal at the World Archery Championships on Monday.

Choi defeated Curtis Broadnax of the United States 146-145 in the bronze medal match at the May 18 Democracy Plaza in Gwangju, 270 kilometers (167 miles) south of Seoul.

The world championships began Saturday with the men's, women's and mixed team events in compound, and Korea was shut out of medals in all three. In individual competitions, Choi was the only Korean archer, male or female, to even get past the round of 32.

In individual compound matches, archers each take 15 arrows, three arrows across five ends. Cumulative points determine the winner, with the maximum score being 150. In case of a tie after five ends, archers go to a shoot-off, with the one hitting closer to the center of the target earning the victory.

Choi held off James Lutz of the United States 147-146 in the round of 16, and then beat Yagiz Sezgin of Turkey 148-147 in the quarterfinals.

Choi then lost to Nicolas Girard of France in the shoot-off in the semifinals, after the two were tied at 149-149 after five ends. Choi shot a 9 to Girard's 10 with their final arrow.

Choi Yong-hee of Korea shoots an arrow during the men's individual compound event at the World Archery Championships at the May 18 Democracy Plaza in Gwangju on Sept. 8. [YONHAP]

In the bronze medal match, Choi trailed Broadnax 117-116 with one end to go, and then shot three consecutive 10s for the comeback win, as the American went 9-10-9 in his final end.

This was Choi's first career individual medal at worlds.

"I am really happy. Obviously, I wanted to win the gold medal here, but I had that disappointing loss in the semifinals," Choi said. "It wasn't easy early on in the bronze medal match, but I am still happy to win the first medal for our country here."

The world championships will continue Tuesday with the knockout matches for the women's individual event in compound and the qualification rounds for the men's, women's and mixed team events in recurve.

The team recurve medals will be awarded on Wednesday, followed by the men's medals on Thursday and the women's medals on Friday, the last day of the competition.

Gwangju is the first Korean host of the archery worlds since the southeastern city of Ulsan in 2009.

Yonhap