Korean archer Lee Woo-seok (Kolon) has advanced to the final of the recurve men's individual event at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, defeating India's formidable opponent, Dhiraj Bommadevara. He is now one match away from securing his first gold medal in the individual event at the Asian Games.
On October 3, at the Okazaki Central Multipurpose Park in Aichi Prefecture, Lee triumphed over Bommadevara with a set score of 7-3 in the semifinals.
Bommadevara, who set a new Asian Games record with a score of 698 in the ranking round, was a tough competitor in the semifinals. The two archers engaged in a closely contested match, tying in three consecutive sets starting from the second.
Lee seized the momentum by winning the first set. Both archers scored 8 points with their first arrows, but Lee followed up with two consecutive 10s, finishing with 28 points. Bommadevara managed a 10 with his second arrow but ended with 26 points, giving Lee a 2-0 lead in set points.
The competition remained intense. In the second set, Lee scored 28 points with arrows of 10, 9, and 9. Bommadevara also hit two 10s but fell short with an 8 on his last arrow, resulting in another tie. The archers split the points, and Lee maintained a 3-1 lead in set points.
In the third set, both archers showcased their focus, each scoring a perfect 30. Bommadevara hit all three arrows at 10, but so did Lee, leading to another tie and a set score of 4-2.
The fourth set also ended in a tie. Lee scored 29 points with arrows of 10, 10, and 9, while Bommadevara matched him with 29 points from 9, 10, and 10. After three consecutive ties, Lee entered the final set with a 5-3 lead.
In the decisive fifth set, Lee finished strong. He scored 10 on his first two arrows and capped it off with another 10, achieving a perfect score of 30. Bommadevara, however, scored 27 points with three 9s. Lee's victory in the fifth set confirmed his advancement to the final with a set score of 7-3.
Lee previously won a gold medal in the men's team event alongside Kim Woo-jin (Cheongju City Hall) and Kim Je-deok (Yecheon County Hall). After winning a bronze medal in the men's individual event at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, Lee will compete for his first individual gold medal and his second medal of the tournament in the final scheduled for 2:50 PM.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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