The 4th World University Archery Championship took place in Chonburi, Thailand, from July 10th to 13th.
The Opening Ceremony at Burapha University Main Stadium in Bangsaen Chonburi Province was presided by H.E. Suwat Liptapanlop, Minister of the Thai Ministry of University Affairs. A total of 132 participants were accredited, with 55 male athletes, 32 female athletes and 45 officials from 17 countries participating. The WUCOC got help from some 400 volunteers. An average of 250 spectators watched the championship. This is the second Championship where the outdoor format was used, the same one used for Archery in the Olympic Games. The archery range for this competition was the Track and Field stadium of the University of Burapha. The grass field was in a good orientation and it was safe and comfortable for archery purposes and for this kind of event. This field was equipped with 30 target butts.
High Level of Competitors
The level of the archers was better than in the last World University Archery Championship. It is very clear that the standard of University archery is improving worldwide. Some of the top-level archers around the world took part in this event, such as Sydney Olympics silver medallist in Men’s Recurve, Victor Wunderlee (USA).
On the first day of competition, American and Korean Olympic archers showed supremacy in the sport by taking the number one spots of both divisions and events during the preliminary round competition. In the men’s division of the Individual Recurve event, Chang Hwan Lee (KOR) took the honor by scoring 674 points while in the women’s division of the same event, Joeng A. Park (KOR) hit the target with 666 points to lead the group.
In the Individual Compound Event, it was a good day for the American Olympian archers as Adam Wheatcroft hit the target with 688 points to stay on top in the men’s division while fellow countrywoman Amber Dawson scored 681 points to register the first spot in the women’s division. The preliminary round results were used for the grouping of the final round competition. Four archers emerged as final winners of the individual events on July 12th. Only Adam Wheatcroft of the United States maintained the number one spot to finally grab the gold while the three preliminary round leaders Chang-Hwan Lee, Jeong-A Park both of Korea and Amber Dawson of the United States faded away. In the Individual Men’s Recurve Event, Jeff Heckels of Luxembourg beat Aurelien Daux of France with the score 105:98. In the Individual Women’s Recurve Event, Mun Jong Kim (KOR) scored 109 points to register a victory over Dawn Chudy (USA) who scored 101 points. In the Individual Compound Event of the Men’s Division, Adam Wheatcroft (USA) beat Timothy Mundon (GBR) (score 116:108). In the Women’s Division, Mary Zorn (USA) beat Yi – Ting Huang of Chinese Taipei with the score 113:104.
The 4th World University Archery Championship came to an end as the tournament reached its final day on July 13th with the finals of the team competition. The gold medals in the team competition were divided between the USA and Korea. The 4th chapter of this world event ended with a victory ceremony, an impressive and entertaining Closing Ceremony that was presided over by FISU representative Mr. Alf Lazer at Burapha University Main Stadium, and followed by a ‘Farewell Party’ at the garden of the Bangsaen Beach Resort Hotel in Bangsaen. So, it was ‘Lar Gon’ (good-bye for now) till the archers meet again at the 5th World University Archery Championship in Madrid, Spain in 2004.