Olympic champion wins individual FISU Games gold in fourth attempt

“This is my fourth time participating but it is my first time winning an individual gold medal,” South Korean archer Choi Misun said Monday after reaching the top of the podium in women’s recurve in her fourth appearance at the FISU World University Games. “I am very happy. This is my last chance to participate. I believe that I drew a successful conclusion.”

It was a moment of joy for the 2016 Olympic team gold medallist.

A student from Gwangju Women’s University, Choi made her FISU Games debut on home soil in 2015, collecting a pair of silver medals. She then claimed a trio of FISU titles at Taipei 2017 and Napoli 2019, all of them in team events.

The 27-year-old had previously made her international debut at the 2015 Archery World Cup in Shanghai and enjoyed instant success, placing third in her first competition in the women’s individual event. Choi expressed she had more fun at the FISU Games than at the Olympics.

“I don’t think there is much difference between the FISU [Games] and Olympic Games, but it’s well organized and I had more fun.

“According to the original plan, I couldn’t participate in this competition due to the pandemic, but I feel very lucky to be able to come here and enjoy this experience again,” added the 2017 world team champion.

Other gold medallists on the final day of archery in Chengdu included 22-year-old Team Korea teammate Seo Mingi in the men’s individual recurve, as well as India’s Avneet Kaur and Bisla Sangampreet Singh, both students from Punjabi University, in the women’s and men’s individual compound.

Seo had already captured FISU gold in the men’s recurve team event on Sunday.

“Yesterday I won in the team competition and today I won in the individual competition, and I am in a very happy mood,” said the double champion.

“The challenge now is the Olympics. There’s a tryout coming up. I hope to make it to the Olympics through the trials,” added the Keimyung University Student.

Written by Hassan Abdulsalam, FISU Young Reporter