'CEO Choi Kang Yang-gung'Chairman Chung Eui-sun'金55 is unexpected..More than a medal, I'm most happy to achieve our athletes' dreams."

Aug 05, 2024

'CEO Choi Kang Yang-gung'Chairman Chung Eui-sun'金55 is unexpected..More than a medal, I'm most happy to achieve our athletes' dreams.'
Archery national team Kim Woo-jin (left) wins the final against Brady Ellison of the U.S. in the men's individual archery at the Paris Olympics in Anvalide, Paris, France on the 4th (Korea time) and wins three gold medals, before handing the gold medal to Chung Eui-sun, president of the Korea Archery Association. Kim Woo-jin won five gold medals, the most by any South Korean athlete in the Olympics. Paris (France) = Reporter Chung Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2024.08.04/
'CEO Choi Kang Yang-gung'Chairman Chung Eui-sun'金55 is unexpected..More than a medal, I'm most happy to achieve our athletes' dreams.'
From left, Han Kyu-hyung, vice chairman of the Korean Archery Association, Chung Eui-sun, president of the Korean Archery Association, and Jang Yeong-sul, vice chairman of the Korean Archery Association.
"I didn't expect 5 gold medals."

Chung Eui-sun, president of the Korea Archery Association (Hyundai Motor Group), met with reporters in front of Anvalid, which has become the `Holy Land of Korean Archery' after winning the first five gold medals in Korean archery on the 5th (Korea time).

Chairman Chung said he was most happy to leave the medal and achieve what the players dreamed of. "First of all, I'm most grateful to our players. The players achieved what they dreamed of. I'm most happy that I used my skills well and that the players achieved everything."

When asked if he expected five gold medals as the head of the South Korean archery team, he shook his head. "As you saw in the final, there are many countries that are very good in the United States, Europe, and Asia. So we were very nervous and we didn't expect that"He confessed.

'CEO Choi Kang Yang-gung'Chairman Chung Eui-sun'金55 is unexpected..More than a medal, I'm most happy to achieve our athletes' dreams.'
Kim Woo-jin and Lim Si-hyun advanced to the final by defeating India's Ankita Bakat-Diraj Bommadevara 6-2 (36-38-35 38-37 39-38) in the mixed team archery competition at the Paris Olympics held in Léjen-Ballid, Paris, France on the 2nd (Korea time). Chung Eui-sun, president of the Archery Association, visits the stadium to celebrate his advance to the finals. Paris (France) = Reporter Chung Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2024.8.2/
'CEO Choi Kang Yang-gung'Chairman Chung Eui-sun'金55 is unexpected..More than a medal, I'm most happy to achieve our athletes' dreams.'
Archery national team Kim Woo-jin (left) greets President Chung Eui-sun of the Korean Archery Association after winning three gold medals in the men's individual archery final against Brady Ellison of the U.S. at the Paris Olympics on the 4th (Korea time). Kim Woo-jin won five gold medals, the most by any South Korean athlete in the Olympics. Paris (France) = Reporter Chung Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2024.08.04/
Regarding the reason why Korean archery is so strong, he replied, `There is a senior president who has worked hard since when Korea first started archery, and the system of the Archery Association has been established since then, and the tradition has continued, and most importantly, it seems that the trust of the association, our athletes, and our archery staff.' "Because we trusted each other and did it together, I think we were able to do well because we did it in one mind."," he said with a smile.

He also did not forget a message of gratitude to the Korean people and Parisians who enthusiastically cheered for the five gold medals in archery. "It must have been difficult for the Korean people to get tickets, but I was very proud and grateful to see so many people coming to support me. Without the local support of the Korean people, our players would have played quite lonely. Thank you for everything," he said, bowing his head. "Our archers are very encouraged by the fact that the people enjoy it and look at it with great care. Thank you for everything," he added. "The Korean government and the president were very interested, and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korean Sports Council also provided a lot of support. The archers and everything were combined to produce this result. We are very lucky and honored." Below is the full text of the interview with Chung Eui-sun, president of the Korea Archery Association.

Paris = Reporter Jeon Young-ji sky4us@sportschosun.com

-Please tell us how you feel about winning all the events at the Korean archery Paris Olympics.

▶First of all, I'm most grateful to our players. I'm most happy that the players achieved what they dreamed of, made use of their skills, and that the players achieved everything

-I think it will be very impressive to see Korean archery dominate all events at the historic site of Anvalid in Paris.

▶ Yes, that's right. We didn't aim for the championship or the number of gold medals in all events, but so that the players could do well as much as they tried. Our association is trying to do well with help, but I think the number of medals has increased because the athletes have done much better than that.

-Did you expect 5 gold medals

▶That's not true. Because as you saw in the final, there are many countries that are very good in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. That's why we were very nervous and we didn't expect that.

-Why is Korean archery so strong.

▶ When Korea first started archery in the past, there was a senior president who worked hard since then, and the archery association system has been established since then, and the tradition has continued, and most importantly, the trust of the association, our athletes, and our archery staff. We trusted each other and did it in one mind, so we were able to do well.

-You finished with a great achievement. How are you going to prepare for the 2028 LA Olympics in 4 years.

▶Well, I think we'll know that only when we get together and have a strategy meeting and analyze the pros and cons in various ways.

-The archery schedule is over, so do you have any next trip from Paris.

▶I have something else to do, so I think I'll have to do some work.

-What part did the association pay particular attention to the athletes ahead of this Olympics?

▶ (Jang Young-sul, vice president of the Korea Archery Association) Our chairman always told us to prepare for four years as soon as the Olympics are over, so we have always done that. In particular, since the Olympics were held in Anvalid, we started with the Chung Mong-gwae competition at a similar war memorial last year, and our chairman came to the Paris site last year to take care of the players' accommodation and meals. As for the meal, I actually ate and ate all the food that I would eat at this Olympics last year through the retirement nutritionist of Taeneung National Training Center. What we did particularly well was Stade France. We came in on the 16th, and after preparing perfectly for the 17th to 18th with other countries, we started practicing here again. It can be said that the chairman has always made flawless preparations that he always emphasizes. In addition, we went to the Namhan River, where the river winds are similar to this area, and set up the same stage as the Paris Olympics in Jincheon Training Center to train. At the end, we played a robot and a game, and if it was Kim Woo-jin's game in the morning, I think it was a game that almost didn't lose. The chairman prepared well one by one, and you asked the chairman about the next Olympics earlier, but the chairman has already instructed me and Vice Chairman Han Kyu-hyung what to do with the next LA Olympics, so we're going to go back and prepare right away.

-Thank you for giving me a national joy with five gold medals. Can you say something to the Korean residents who supported you locally and the Korean people who cheered you up all night?

▶It must have been difficult for the Korean residents to get tickets this time, but I was very proud and grateful to see them come and support us. Without the local support of the Korean residents, our athletes would have been very lonely, so we really thank the Korean residents indefinitely, and our archers are very encouraged by the fact that the people are enjoying it and watching it so much. So it's an infinite thank you. And the Korean government and the president showed great interest, and the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism and the Korean Sports Association also provided a lot of support. I think it's a great luck and an honor because everything, including the archers, is combined. Thank you.



sky4us@sportschosun.com