Tham Choy Lin, BERNAMA
Malaysia’s world-ranked archery trio was back at training after securing a spot in the Olympics quarterfinals as a sense of confidence bubbles in camp after yesterday’s ranking contest.
“Everything is going according to plan. We have avoided the Koreans in the draw. The mood in camp is very good and they are confident,” said team manager Tan Sri Abdul Halil Mutalif.
Cheng Chu Sian, Muhd Marbawi Sulaiman and Wan Khalmizam Abdul Aziz set a new national mark of 1,993 in finishing third best in the ranking contest to earn a first-round bye for tomorrow’s team medal battle.
They shattered their own previous national best of 1,980 set last year. Wan Khalmizam also rewrote his national individual record to a new high of 674, two better than the previous total.
If they make the rostrum, they would enter the annals of Malaysian sports history because until now, only badminton has earned Malaysia glory in the Olympics with one silver and two bronze medals. South Korea, gold medallist at the previous two Olympics, are the fancied favourites.
They topped yesterday’s rankings over 72 arrows with Athens bronze medallist Ukraine in second place, just four points ahead of Malaysia.
The men’s team knockout battle is a day-long affair, culminating in the final in the evening. Losing semifinalists will vie for the bronze.
The number of arrows for the 12-country team competition is only 24, changed from 27 from the last Games in Athens. Each team member takes turns to shoot one arrow at a time.
Russia was the fourth team to secure a quarterfinal berth. Fighting for the remaining four slots in the last eight are Australia against Poland, Great Britain against China, Canada against Italy, and the United States against Taiwan.
The draw pits the Malaysians in the same half as the Ukranians and they will clash in the semifinals if they advance from the last eight.
In the quarterfinals, to begin shortly before noon, Malaysia will meet either Italy or Canada, whom they have not faced before.
“The archers are now used to top-level competition. They are prepared to take on any opponent,” said Abdul Halil.
South Korea are the world’s reigning record holder for the 24-arrow match with a score of 231. Two members of the record-breaking team — Lee Chang Hwan and Im Dong Hyun — are here.
The Olympics competition uses only the classic bow, otherwise known as the recurve bow with the limbs of the bow curved away from the archer.
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