NATIONAL archer Fatin Nurfatehah Mat Salleh (pic) will carry Malaysia’s hopes in the women’s compound event when she takes on South Korea’s Park Jung-yoon in the quarter-finals today at the Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Multipurpose Square in Aichi.
Fatin is the only Malaysian archer still in contention, but she knows her higher world ranking will count for little against Jung-yoon.
The Malaysian is ranked No. 26 in the world, while Jung-yoon is No. 66, but Fatin expects another close contest with a place in the semi-finals at stake.
She had to dig deep in the last 16 elimination round, edging Thailand’s Kanoknapus Kaewchomphu 147-146.
“This will be my first time facing the Korean archer and I expect it to be a very close fight for a place in the semi-finals.
“But we never know what will happen on the day, so I will just do my best. Hopefully, if things go my way, I can make it to the semi-finals,” said Fatin when contacted.
Earlier, compatriot Iman Aisyah Norazam was eliminated in the early round after losing to Taiwan’s Chen Fang-yi in a shoot-off, with both archers tied on 145 points.
Malaysia’s two representatives in the men’s compound event, Juwaidi Mazuki and Alang Arif Aqill, were also knocked out in the last 16 elimination round by South Korean opponents.
Juwaidi lost narrowly 145-147 to Kim Jong-ho, while Alang went down 145-149 to Choi Yong-hee.
Malaysia’s hopes in the recurve event also came to an end, with Evan Chong going down 2-6 to Taiwan’s Tang Chih-chun in the last 16 elimination round.
Quik Chern Xin had earlier lost 0-6 to South Korea’s Kim Je-deok in the qualifying round, while Ariana Nur Dania Zairi and Joey Tan also fell at the same stage.
Ariana was beaten 0-6 by Indonesia’s Diananda Choirunisa, while Joey put up a stronger fight before losing 3-7 to Taiwan’s Li Tsai-chi.
