By Im Yoon-seoPosted : August 2, 2024, 17:36Updated : August 27, 2024, 09:05
Archers Kim Woo-jin and Lim Si-hyeon react after finishing an individual elimination round at the Summer Olympics in Paris, France on Aug. 2, 2024. Yonhap
SEOUL, August 2 (AJU PRESS) - Halfway through the Summer Olympics in Paris, France, Korea has already surpassed its initial modest goal of winning at least five gold, with medals coming in unexpected disciplines such as shooting.
Korea has won six gold, three silver and three bronze medals as of Friday, ranking seventh in the overall gold-medal count, after China, the U.S., France, Australia, Japan, and England.
Korean archers Kim Woo-jin and Lim Si-hyeon are competing in the mixed team event on Friday. Korea is aiming for gold in the event after already securing a third consecutive victory in the men's team event and a tenth consecutive win in the women's team event.
All six Korean archers, who have advanced to the round of 16, will also vie for gold in the men's and women's individual events over the weekend.
Table tennis player Shin Yu-bin competes in the women's singles at the Summer Olympics in Paris, France on Aug. 2, 2024. AP-Yonhap
Earlier in the day, table tennis player Shin Yu-bin lost to the defending champion Chen Meng of China in a semifinals match in the women's singles. She will compete for a bronze medal on Saturday.
Shooter Kim Ye-ji prepares to compete in the 25-meter pistol during a warm-up session at the Summer Olympics in Paris, France on Aug. 2, 2024. AP-Yonhap
Despite high expectations, sharpshooter Kim Ye-ji failed to advance to the finals in the women's 25-meter pistol. Kim, who captured the global spotlight with her incredibly calm demeanor and marksmanship, was considered a strong contender after winning silver in the 10-meter air pistol last Sunday, but was unable to replicate her earlier success.
Meanwhile, boxer Im Ae-ji advanced to the semifinals in the women's 54-kg category the previous day, after a hard-fought match against Colombia's Yeni Arias in the quarterfinals. With Thursday's victory, Im already secured at least a bronze medal as there is no third-place match and both semifinal losers will receive bronze medals.
Boxer Im Ae-ji reacts in the women's 54-kg category at the Summer Olympics in Paris, France on Aug. 1, 2024. Yonhap
Her achievement will be the country's first-ever Olympic medal won by a female boxer and also the first medal in boxing since the silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics. Im is slated to face Turkish boxer Hatice Akbaş on Sunday.