Rising talent Dae-Sung Jang to make World Champs debut

In such short time, South Korea’s Dae-Sung Jang has shown promise to represent his country at the World Archery Para Championships, which begin on Sunday (23 August) in Donaueschingen, Germany.

Jang claimed a silver medal in the individual W1 open combined division at the 2014 Asian Para Games in Incheon, South Korea. It only took him less than two years to accomplish this result since stepping into the para-archery scene in 2013.

“When I finished second, I was full of emotion, because I had doubted whether I could make the podium in this short space of time,” Jang said.

However, even though he has seen quick success, Jang still acknowledged the importance of having more experience. He hopes that will not hinder him at the World Championships, which run until 30 August.

“I think the main reason why my compatriot rival Dong-Sub Koo took a victory over me was that he knew how to run his own game at such a big tournament,” Jang said.

In May 2015, the-37-year-old decided to focus on his archery career by joining the newly founded Daegu Metropolitan Transit Corporation’s Business Para-Archery Team. Currently, there are four business para-archery teams in South Korea.

The business team has allowed him to focus on the sport and practice anytime he wants. It especially helps that the team has its own para-archery field.

“I used to train alone,” said Jang, who has impairments in his lower limbs, following a traffic accident at 19. “But now, I am training with a coach systematically. I am very happy that my coach is helping me to work on honing techniques.”

“Most of all, I was attracted by the fact that the corporation was willing to support me to participate in international events more than once a year,” Jang said.

Jang will go for medals in both individual and mixed-team events at the World Championships. In the mixed team, Jang will join Incheon 2014 medallists Ok-Geum Kim and Koo.

He will compete in his first World Championships, and with Rio 2016 qualification slots at stake, he admitted there is much stress.

“But, I am making preparations based on lessons that I learned throughout the Asian Para Games,” Jang said. “In particular, these days, I have been practicing in shooting while listening to loud music, in order to become used to the noise at a big competition venue.”

“What I am trying to do is to concentrate on my target, no matter where I am and whom I am contending with.”

However, even if he gains a qualification slot for his country for Rio 2016 at Donaueschingen 2015, Jang still needs confirmation that he is nominated to represent South Korea by the national selection process.

Throughout 2015, South Korean athletes are competing nationally at four selection matches. The final four candidates for the men’s individual event will vie for the chance to earn qualification slots for their country for Rio 2016 by entering a further three rounds of selection between March and April in 2016.

A world title would be huge for Jang’s Rio 2016 campaign, and he hopes to also hit big in November’s Asian Para Championships in Bangkok, Thailand.

“I hope to end the year with a gold medal,” he said.