Korea may have defeated USA to reach the recurve men team final, but it was their quarterfinal match against China that was the most eventful at Shanghai 2025, the second stage of the 2025 Hyundai World Cup.
Olympic gold medallists Kim Woojin, Lee Woo Seok and Kim Je Deok beat the host nation 6-2 in the usual recurve set play system, but it was unlike any match we have seen for a long time in a World Cup with loud and proud celebrations occurring between the archers and coaches.
It stupefied the watching public and fellow athletes like no other event this week at the Yuanshen Sports Centre.
“When I shout or yell things like ‘fighting’, releasing that energy definitely does help me calm my nerves and focus better,” said two time Olympian Je Deok. “I suppose it’s different for every athlete, though. There are some athletes who release their energy very quietly or others like myself.”
“When I was in Tokyo at my first major competition, I was a bit nervous and ended up shouting out of not wanting to leave anything on the table.”
Korea and China like many others do usually congratulate each other for every shot they make to boost morale but the sound levels of the celebrations got increasingly louder as this particular contest wore on.
Je Deok and Kao Wenchao were certainly the most vociferous from their respective teams and there was even a point where the former screamed vehemently like no other moment in the match and slammed his bow firmly on the ground.
The intensity was unmatched.
“I really don’t like disturbing other teams during competitions but when you’re constantly on the receiving end of things, it starts to pile up and in this case, I was more vocal to keep our team’s energy together,” explained Je Deok. “I had no ill intentions and would never do something unsportsmanlike.”
“Our next match against the United States of America was very quiet. That match was very sportsmanlike and that’s what I prefer. I think that match against China ended up getting heated and things happened in the heat of the moment.”
