Smiles tell a different story

CHENG Chu Sian smiled the two times he hit the seven-point region in his quarter-final against Russia's Bair Badenov yesterday but that was just to hide the pain in his gut as he let slip, for the second time in the Olympics, a place in the semi-finals.

Cheng Chu Sian in action against Russia’s Bair Badenov in the quarter-final at the Archery Stadium yesterday.

If his nerves lost the team the quarter-final against Italy on Monday, he was the sole victim of his actions at the Olympic Green Archery Range.

Having shocked South Korean Lee Chang Hwan, who set an Olympic record of 117 from a possible 120 in qualifying on Wednesday and was part of the team who won gold on Monday, Chu Sian wasn't expected to let pressure get to him again.

But it did and he knew from the moment his fourth arrow hit seven that his campaign was over.

"A technical error cost the first seven. My coach understands what happened but the second (which came with the first arrow of the fourth end) was probably because I was nervous," said Chu Sian.
"I am disappointed, especially after having beaten the Korean but I just have to accept that when it mattered, I wasn't good enough."

Having spent the better part of one year preparing for the Olympics, Chu Sian said he is looking forward to a long break.

"It has been a long time since I rested properly. I will take an extended break but the experience here has motivated me to aim higher. I will focus on next year's world championships after the break."

Involved in a thriller against Chang Hwan, which needed extra arrows to decide the tie after both were tied on 105, Chu Sian showed what Malaysians thought were nerves of steel when he shot a perfect 10 to the Korean's nine with the second arrow of the tie-breaker. Both had scored nine with the first.

And when Chu Sian was tied on 27 with Russian Badenov after the first end of the quarter-final, he looked to be on track to create more history.

But the seven sank his and Malaysian hearts as Badenov led 55-52 after the second end and stretched his lead by another point to 82-78 after the next three arrows.

Then came the Chu Sian smile again as he hit seven for the second time as Badenov sealed the tie, and eventual bronze, 109-104.

The Russian lost to eventual gold medallist Viktor Ruban of Ukraine on a tie-breaker after they were tied on 110. Ruban hit a 10 with his second tie-break arrow while Badenov hit eight.

Ruban then shocked Korean Park Kyung Mo 113-112, with a 10 with his final arrow giving him gold. Bair beat Mexico's Juan Rene Serrano 115-110 for the bronze.

NST