'Live Match Check for 15-Year-Old National Team Member': Korean Compound Archery Trains with World-Class Athletes Ahead of AG

*This content was translated by AI.

Ahead of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, the Korean compound archery national team sharpened its competitive edge by training with world-class athletes.

The Korea Archery Association announced on the 18th that it held the "2026 Compound Overseas Elite Athlete Invitation Joint Training" from the 7th to the 12th at the National Representative Athletes Village in Jincheon, Chungbuk.

Four overseas elite athletes, including those ranked within the world's top 10, participated in this training and completed six days of sessions with the Korean national team. The participating athletes were experienced medalists from international competitions such as the World Championships, World Cups, and continental championships. In the men's category, Ajay Scott (Great Britain, world ranking No. 9) and Douglas Vladimir Nolasco (El Salvador, world ranking No. 22) took part, while in the women's category, Sofia Paiz (world ranking No. 12) and Elisa Roner (Italy, world ranking No. 17) joined.

Notably, Ajay Scott has won one individual title and two team titles at the Youth World Championships, one individual and two team titles at the Pan American Championships, and two mixed team titles at the World Cup. Sofia Paiz holds a second-place finish in the individual event at the World Championships, while Elisa Roner has won an individual title at the World Cup.

The Korean national team conducted training sessions mirroring actual international competitions, including 50-meter technical drills and performance evaluations, as well as men's and women's team events, mixed events, and individual events. The training went beyond simple record measurement to assess game management and mental control.

Overseas athletes shared insights on shooting techniques and game strategies used in actual matches, as well as mental management under pressure and individual game management know-how. On the 11th, a special event match utilizing the national team's special match stage was also held.

Mixed team events featured Choi Yong-hee (42) and Park Ye-rin (20), Choi Eun-gyu (33) and Kang Yeon-seo (15), and Kim Jong-ho (32) and Park Jeong-yun (29). In the afternoon, individual matches between Kang Yeon-seo and overseas athletes, a head-to-head contest between Park Ye-rin and an overseas athlete, and men's and women's team events followed. For 15-year-old national team member Kang Yeon-seo, facing world-class athletes directly provided a valuable opportunity to experience the tension of international competition and game management.

Equipment exchange was also a crucial part of this training. Compound archery is a sport where equipment settings, such as bows and sights, significantly impact performance. The national team members observed overseas athletes' equipment setup methods and shared knowledge on equipment management, including paper tuning, and practical usage know-how.

This training was also a process to enhance real-match readiness ahead of the Asian Games. The Korean compound archery program has been steadily expanding exchanges with overseas athletes and gaining practical experience to strengthen its international competitiveness. The Korea Archery Association stated, "We plan to continue inviting elite overseas athletes and conducting joint trainings, focusing on the compound archery discipline."

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*This content was translated by AI.