Ansan, I Reached the Individual Finals

[Asian Games] I Reached the Individual Finals... Ansan “Focus More on Group Competitions Together”

“I want to raise the Taegeukgi as high as possible on the podium in the team competition.”

“Because I have a clearer goal for the team competition, I will try to focus more on the team competition with my colleagues.”

Ansan (Gwangju Women’s University), the ‘three-time Olympic archery gold medal winner’, is challenging for two gold medals at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games. 스포츠토토

She defeated Hai Ligan of China 7-3 in the semifinals of the women's individual event held at the Puyang Inhu Sports Center in Hangzhou, China on the 3rd and advanced to the finals.

Ansan is also in the quarterfinals of the women's team event, teamed with Im Si-hyun (Korea National Sport University) and Choi Mi-seon (Gwangju Bank).

The team competition will be held on the 6th from the quarterfinals to the final, and the individual competition will be held on the 7th.

Perhaps the individual gold medal would be a more notable achievement.

However, Ansan said it would focus more on team competition.

Ansan, who we met in the common coverage area (mixed zone) after the game, said, “I’m more ambitious because I’m doing it with my colleagues (in team competitions).

"I felt it at the last Tokyo Olympics as well, but I think winning a medal as a team is a very proud and valuable thing in itself," he explained.

He added, "I hope to raise the Taegeukgi as high as possible on the podium in the team event."

In the solo exhibition, there is a ‘family fight’ with Im Si-hyun.

Im Si-hyun finished first in this year's national team selection competition and is the 'youngest ace' with the best results in international competitions.

Im Si-hyeon, who finished the semifinals first, was asked who she would like to see make it to the finals, and she said, "She's definitely San-i."

Rather than being conscious of the pressure of going head-to-head with her teammate, she wanted to end up sharing the gold and silver medals.

Ansan also said, "I don't feel any pressure.

The two of us are very close," and added, "It won't matter which of the two wins, but I think it would be good if we can compete in good faith together."

Ansan, who swept all the team, mixed, and individual gold medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics held two years ago, standing tall as the first archery triple gold medalist, has continued to be a world-class archer.

She is now very used to being in the spotlight at big competitions.

In the past, when standing in the stands, people would create a 'virtual wall' next to the target and focus only on the target, but now they say they can feel the atmosphere of the stadium by scanning the stands and see the opposing players.

Ansan said, "As I have gained more experience, I feel like I have become less impatient and more relaxed.

In Tokyo, I ignored the nervousness, but now I am accepting the tension and nervousness and focusing more on how to deal with it.

I think I have improved a lot." He said.