Ku wins men's individual to complete South Korean clean sweep

South Korea archer Ku Bon-chan won men's individual gold medal at the Rio Olympics here on Friday, making it the fourth medal won by Korea which completed a grand slam ever in the country's archery history.

Ku, the 23-year-old world No. 2, beat French archer Jean-Charles Valladont 7-3 with scores of 30-28, 28-26, 29-29, 28-29, 27-26 in five sets, each of three arrows apiece.

Ku survived two sudden-death shoot-offs en route to the final. "I tried to do my best without any regret," said Ku, who shoot 10 and 9 respcetivly in the shoot-offs in quaterfinal and semifinal.

Ku's victory gave South Korea gold medals in each of the four archery disciplines here, men's and women's team and men's and women's individual. It was the second men's individual gold medal and 23rd medal in total won by South Korean archers in the last nine Olympic Games.

Ku said: "It is a big step further for Korean archery and also a reflection of Olympic spirit, stronger."

No country has ever swept up four archery titles at a single Olympics since the competition expanded to four events in 1988.

"It was windy but we have performed well for the audience," said 27-year-old American Brady Ellison while taking about his shoot off session with Ku.

Ellison defeated van den Berg Sjef from the Netherlands 6-2 to win the bronze medal. Endit