When Indonesian Arrows Get Blocked by South Korean Walls

The Indonesian archery team is still unable to contribute gold in the 2022 Asian Games. Their hard efforts to achieve this target are almost always hampered by South Korea, which is the main power in world archery.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI. The original article can be found in Kala Anak Panah Indonesia Tertahan Tembok Korea Selatan

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

The Indonesian archery team, Arif Dwi Pangestu/Ahmad Khoirul Baasith/Riau Ega Agatha Salsabilla (from left to right), won bronze after beating Bangladesh, 6-0, in the men's team recurve event at the 2022 Asian Games in Fuyang Yinhu Sports Center, China, Friday (6/10/2023).

HANGZHOU, KOMPAS - The Indonesian archery team is unlikely to contribute a gold medal in the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games in China. In several events, the "Merah Putih" archers are constantly obstructed by representatives from South Korea, who are known to be the world's main powerhouse. Indonesian archers hope to have more frequent encounters with South Koreans, so that their mentality and experience can be strengthened to penetrate the strong walls of the "Ginseng Country."

“Our hope is always to get gold. However, this hope is still difficult to realize because South Korea is still too strong. "If we can get past the South Korean wall, I'm sure we can get gold," said Indonesian recurve archer, Riau Ega Agata Salsabilla, after winning bronze in the men's team at the Fuyang Yinhu Sports Center, Zhejiang Province, Friday (6/ 10/2023).

Indonesia's last representative in the recurve competition, the men's team consisting of Ega, Ahmad Khoirul Baasith, and Arif Dwi Pangestu, tried hard when they met the South Korean team (Lee Woo-seok, Oh Jin-hyek, and Kim Je-deok) in the semifinals. On paper, Ega and his inferior friends from South Korea are still strengthened by Jin-hyek and Je-deok, the two archers who led their team to win gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

A glimmer of hope surfaced when South Korea gathered 28 points (9,10,9) in the first round. Ega, who took the first chance, managed to strike his arrow to the 10-point mark followed by Baasith with the same score. Unfortunately, Arif failed to follow his two teammates' rhythm. His arrow only hit the 8-point mark.

After that, Indonesia's steps became even more difficult to surprise. Even after Arif nailed an arrow to point 8 in the first round, he and Ega took turns repeating this feat. Overall, Arif hit the target 8 three times and Ega hit it twice out of the three rounds conducted.

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

The Indonesian archery team, Riau Ega Agatha Salsabilla/Arif Dwi Pangestu/Ahmad Khoirul Baasith (from left to right), embrace after winning the match against Bangladesh in the bronze medal match for the men's team recurve number at the 2022 Asian Games at Fuyang Yinhu Sports Center, Zhejiang Province, China, Friday (6/10/2023).

South Korean Domination

From three rounds, Indonesia only managed to score nine points with six arrows hitting point 9 and seven hitting point 10. On the other hand, South Korea was like a machine with arrows that were very precise, never missing points 9 and 10. They managed to hit point 9 seven times and point 10 eleven times.

Indonesia suffered a crushing 0-6 defeat (28-28, 28-29, 25-29, 28-29, 29-29, 25-29) against South Korea. Fortunately, Ega and her teammates did not lose their morale when facing Bangladesh in the battle for the bronze medal. They were able to win convincingly, 6-0 (27-26, 29-29, 28-27, 27-27, 29-27, 29-27).

Also read: Riau Ega Agata Salsabilla Paves the Way to Win Recurve Archery Medal

This was the second bronze medal won by Indonesia in the recurve competition after the mixed team consisting of Ega and Diananda Choirunisa won it, Wednesday (4/10/2023). The Indonesian archery team still has a chance to add bronze in the women's individual compound number if Ratih Zilizati Fadhly can beat India's representative, Aditi Gopichand Swami, Saturday (7/10/2023) or on the last day of the archery competition.

"South Korea's main advantage is their ability to perform consistently and minimize mistakes. This is formed by their numerous experiences in competitions. In their country, there is a long-established competitive structure that they regularly participate in, including international championships. They always seem to be present in every important championship final," stated Ega.

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

Member of the Indonesian archery team, Riau Ega Agatha Salsabilla, shoots an arrow against Bangladesh in the match for the bronze medal in the men's team recurve number of the 2022 Asian Games at the Fuyang Yinhu Sports Center, Zhejiang Province, China, Friday (6/10 /2023).

On the other hand, South Korea without any obstacles means beating India with a score of 5-1 in the final. It was Ginseng Country's fourth gold in the recurve competition after its representatives became the best in the women's individual, women's team and mixed team events. The only gold they failed to achieve was from the men's individual which is still being contested by representatives of China and Mongolia, Saturday (7/10/2023).

Always thwarted by South Korea

Not only in the men's team recurve competition, the steps of the Indonesian representatives were almost always thwarted by South Korea in other events. Previously, Baasith was eliminated by Lee Woo-seok with a score of 1-7 in the men's individual recurve round of 16. Meanwhile, Diananda Choirunisa lost 3-7 to An San in the women's individual quarter-finals.

Diananda, along with Anindya Nayla Putri and Rezza Octavia, was defeated by the South Korean team with a score of 0-6 in the quarterfinals of the women's team event. Moreover, before winning 6-2 against the Iranian team in the mixed team event bronze medal match, Diananda and Ega were defeated by the South Korean team with a score of 2-6 in the semifinals.

In terms of quality, some Indonesian archers are actually able to match South Korean archers. However, they are unable to maintain consistent performances.

In the compound competition, Deki Adika Hastian was eliminated by Joo Jae-hoon with a score of 147-149 in the top 16 men's individual. Ratih experienced a similar fate, she lost 142-145 to So Chae-won in the women's individual semifinals. Ratih together with Syahara Khoerunisa and Sri Ranti were defeated by the South Korean team with a score of 229-232 in the match for bronze.

In terms of quality, some Indonesian archers are actually able to match South Korean archers. However, they are unable to maintain consistency in their performance. This is considered to be due to a mental factor, especially when competing against South Korean representatives.

Also read: Olympian Duo Becomes Indonesian Archery Motorbike

The performance of the Indonesian men's recurve team, for example. After not playing optimally against South Korea, they were able to perform better against Bangladesh. They can minimize errors by only targeting point 8 twice, and conversely they can hit point 9 seven times and nine times hitting point 10.

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

The Indonesian archery team, Diananda Choirunisa, paired with Riau Ega Agatha Salsabilla, competed against the Indian archery team, Ankita Bhakat/Atanu Das, in the final eight of the 2022 Asian Games mixed team recurve event at the Fuyang Yinhu Sports Center, Province Zhejiang, China, Wednesday (4/10/2023).

Therefore, Indonesian archers and coaches believe that they need to meet South Korea more often. In doing so, the "Red and White" archers will become accustomed to facing an enemy that always obstructs their gold ambitions.

"As much as possible, we often go to championships in South Korea. The more we meet them, the children will continue to be motivated to keep up and learn how to find ways to beat them," said Indonesian archery coach Hendra Setijawan."

Achievements are decreasing

Overall, Indonesia's archery team has slightly declined compared to the Jakarta-Palembang 2018 Asian Games. Five years ago, they were able to secure one silver medal from Diananda in the women's individual category and a bronze from Ega in the men's individual category.

The good news outside of the medal tally for the Asian Games 2022 is that Diananda can contribute a ticket for the women's individual event at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The ticket was obtained because the country's four best female individual archers had already qualified for the Olympics. Diananda is following in the footsteps of Arif, who contributed a ticket for the men's individual event when he reached the semifinals of the 2023 World Championships in Berlin, Germany, from July 31 to August 6.

With the failure of archery to contribute gold, Indonesia's chances to achieve the target of 12 gold medals at the 2022 Asian Games are almost closed. So far, the Red and White team has collected 7 gold, 11 silver, and 18 bronze.

Indeed, there are still a number of Indonesian representatives fighting in several sports, such as wrestling, weightlifting, soft tennis, marathon swimming, karate, jujitsu and chess, who are still competing on Saturday (7/10/ 2023). However, on paper, it was difficult for them to add up to five more gold.

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

Head coach of the Indonesian archery national training course Hendra Setijawan gives instructions to the Indonesian team, Riau Ega Agatha Salsabilla/Diananda Choirunisa, when they compete against the South Korean team, Lee Wooseok/Lim Sihyeon, in the semi-finals of the mixed team recurve event at the 2022 Asian Games at the Fuyang Yinhu Sports Center, Zhejiang Province, China, Wednesday (4/10/2023). The Indonesian archery team lost 2-6 to South Korea.

Indonesian Asian Games 2022 Contingent Leader, Basuki Hadimuljono, has apologized for Indonesia's failure to achieve its 12 gold medal target. "There are many things that need to be evaluated so that our sports performance can improve. We need to focus on developing our top performing sport branches, including those that provide the most gold medals. Infrastructure must be improved, and regeneration must be promoted," he said.

The failure was not separate from the inaccuracy of several golden predictions established by the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Take for instance, badminton, for the first time since the tradition began in the 1962 Jakarta Asian Games, they were unable to contribute any medals. Rock climbing, which was expected to obtain at least two golds, unfortunately had to settle for only one gold.

"The results of the Asian Games will be a comprehensive evaluation material for all parties, including the Kemenpora Review Team. We need to be more accurate in predicting potential performances. After the Asian Games, we will face the 2024 Olympics. Branches that have the potential for gold medals should receive great attention so that the goal of increasing gold medal achievements can be achieved," said the Chairman of the Indonesian Olympic Committee, Raja Sapta Oktohari.