Judoka loses quarters in bizarre overruling but earns bronze through repechage


South Korea won a seventh successive women’s team archery gold Sunday.

In the final, South Korea edged China 210-209 to capture its second gold of the London 2012 Games.

The victory meant South Korea has won the women’s team title all seven times since the event was introduced at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul.

After a seesaw battle through the first 18 of 24 arrows, the South Korean trio of Ki Bo-bae, Choi Hyeon-ju and Lee Sung-jin held a slim 156-154 lead over the Chinese team of Cheng Ming, Xu Jing and Fang Yuting. 

In team archery, three archers each take two shots per end, or set. Teams compete in four ends for a total of 24 arrows.

The Koreans maintained the two-point advantage with three arrows left for each side. China ended up with three straight 9s. Lee and Choi shot 9 and 8, respectively, forcing Ki, the final shooter, needing 9 for the win.

The 24-year-old set out to the line and delivered just the score the team needed.

At the ExceL Arena in London, South Korean judoka Cho Jun-ho earned the bronze medal in the men’s under-66kg class despite a farcical overruling of a decision in his quarterfinal match.

After a golden score, or a sudden-death extra period, all three judges awarded the bout to Cho. Moments later, the International Judo Federation’s Refereeing Commission intervened.

Following discussions on the sidelines, referee director Juan Carlos Barcos called the judges and seemingly told them to change their minds. The three judges then went back onto the mat and declared Cho’s Japanese opponent Masashi Ebinuma the winner.

The IJF said it was the first time a decision had been overruled.

Cho said he felt like he was “robbed of something” after the quarters but quickly regained composure. He beat Sugoi Uriarte of Spain for bronze through the repechage round.

Ebinuma went on to lose the semis and also took one of two bronze medals.

In men’s football, South Korea defeated Switzerland 2-1 for its first win on Sunday.

In the second Group B match, Arsenal forward Park Chu-young opened the scoring, followed by a tie-breaker from his teammate and new Cardiff City winger Kim Bo-kyung.

The victory gave South Korea four points and put them in second place behind Mexico, which defeated Gabon 2-0 earlier Sunday.

This is South Korea’s seventh straight Olympic appearance and ninth overall, but the country has gone beyond the first round only twice.

The Olympic football tournament features four groups of four nations. The top two teams from those groups will make up the quarterfinals.

In the medal count on Sunday, South Korea ranked fourth with two gold, one silver and two bronze medals. China added two gold medals in diving and women’s shooting, staying on top with six gold, four silver and two bronze medals.

By Chun Sung-woo (swchun@heraldcorp.com)