Chung Eui-sun, chairman of Hyundai Motor Group and president of the Korea Archery Association, visited Japan on September 29 to encourage the South Korean archery team.
Upon arriving in Japan, Chung had lunch with the compound archery men's and women's teams and their coaches, who are competing for gold in the team event on September 30. He expressed pride in their journey, stating, "I am proud of you for coming this far despite the challenging environment. Do not fear failure; believe in yourselves and challenge confidently with the efforts you have made so far."
In the afternoon, he moved to Okazaki Archery Stadium to observe the women's recurve individual qualifiers, where he encouraged athletes Kang Chaeyoung, Oh Yejin, and Lee Yoonji, who reached the quarterfinals.
On September 30, he attended the women's compound team event, as well as the mixed and men's team events, providing support from the stands. Following the events, he shared lunch with the recurve men's and women's representatives.
Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor Group and the Korea Archery Association have implemented comprehensive support to ensure that athletes can perform at their best during the competition.
Hyundai secured a hotel located about 20 minutes from Okazaki Archery Stadium, assisting athletes in recovering their stamina and focus after training and competitions. During downtime, a nearby café was transformed into a dedicated rest area for the team to relax and dine.
Support extended to training as well. Notably, during a training camp in Japan, the team meticulously assessed the climate conditions, such as temperature and wind speed, for September, when the competition takes place. Athletes experienced not only training but also the logistics of accommodation, travel routes, local environment, and food to enhance their adaptability for the competition.
On September 5, a special training session was conducted at Gwangju Kia Champions Field, where athletes practiced adapting to noise and crowd dynamics in front of baseball fans. They focused on maintaining composure and concentration while aiming at the target amidst the cheers and chants of the packed stadium.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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