ARCHER CHU SIAN ENTERS LAST 16 IN INDIVIDUAL CONTEST

BEIJING, Aug 13 (Bernama) -- Malaysian national top archer Cheng Chu Sian bounced back from a dismal performance in the team event to enter the last 16 of the Olympics men's individual competition Wednesday.

Chu Sian opened with a 109-101 score against Australia's Matthew Gray and
then beat Matti Hatava of Finland 110-103 in the second round of the individual
tussle which is decided over 12 arrows.

But Thursday, Chu Sian faces a tough hurdle in Lee Chang Hwan, a member of
the South Korean team that retained the gold medal with an Olympic
record.

The outcome will advance the winner into the quarter-finals.

Lee was sharp on target, scoring 117 out of 120 to beat Yusuf Goktug of
Turkey to enter round three.

Chu Sian's teammate Muhd Marbawi Sulaiman was beaten by a point by Taiwan's
Chen Szu Yuan 107-106 in the first round.

Wan Khalmizam Abd Aziz will take to the first round only Wednesday evening
against Alexandru Bodnar of Romania.

The 22-year-old mass communications student was the best of the trio in
coming out fifth in the rankings. He smashed his own national record over 72
arrows with a 674 score as the team set a Malaysian record of 1,993
here.

National coach Lee Jae Hyung said earlier that it would be an achievement
if any of the Malaysian archers reached the last 16 because of the world-class
field.
-- BERNAMA