Amateur's Revolt: Winning an Asian Games Medal with Skills Honed in a Club.

South Korean archer Joo Jae-hoon, a representative of the national compound archery team, is gaining attention for his silver medal win in the mixed team event at the Hangzhou Asian Games on the 4th of this month. His story encapsulates the journey of an unsung hero, a former police officer, who transitioned to become an archer.

 

He expressed his gratitude to his wife, recognizing the importance of her role at home, and pledged to repay his boss with better results.

 

Competing in the compound archery mixed team event at the Hangzhou Asian Games, Joo Jae-hoon partnered with So Chae-won to secure a silver medal. While they narrowly lost to Indian opponents with a score of 158-159, this marked Joo's first-ever medal in Korean archery.

 

The crux of the story lies in Joo Jae-hoon's remarkable achievement at the Asian Games as an amateur. He started archery as a hobby while working as a police officer in Uljin, Gyeongsangbuk-do. However, he continued his archery training through weekend club activities and with friends, and his dedication and hard work eventually paid off.

 

To plan for a leave of absence to pursue his dreams, Joo took an unpaid leave from his job for nearly a year, receiving support from his wife and employer. He expressed his gratitude to his wife, recognizing the importance of her role at home, and pledged to repay his boss with better results.

 

Reflecting on his achievement, Joo Jae-hoon said, "I won't forget my first international competition medal personally. When I picked up the bow, I felt that archery was my calling." He also mentioned the possibility of compound archery being adopted as an official discipline for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and declared his commitment to continue representing his country.

 

Joo Jae-hoon will once again challenge for gold in the men's team event on the 5th, and his story serves as an inspiring example of passion and dedication toward achieving dreams. Even amidst his Asian Games medal and career advancement within his workplace, he chose the "silver medal," honoring his resilience and dedication. Great expectations lie ahead for his future performances, and his story provides ample inspiration for the pursuit of one's dreams through passion.