South Korean archers, both men and women, dominated the first day of the qualifications by holding the top rankings in Doha on Saturday despite of stiff wind at the Lusail Shooting Complex.
Park Sung Hyun, the double gold winner of the Athens Olympics collected 325 points and 328 points in the 70m and 60m distance sessions respectively, keeping on the first place, followed by compatriot Yun Mi Jin, Yun Ok Hee and Lee Tuk Young.
"We are not concerned about the rankings," said Park Sung Soo, coach of the South Korean women archers. "The score of each athlete is not as good as their standard level performance."
Kim Yong Ok from DPR Korea took the fifth place with a total of 641 points, ahead of China's Zhang Juanjuan, World Cup final champion, with an equaled score.
China's 18-year-old Qian Jialing, the current World number one placed only the 13th with a total of 629 points as the second arrow of her 70m session was out of target.
In the men's qualifications, featuring two sessions in 90m and 70m distances, South Korea's Im Dong Hyun, a 20-year-old debutant, led with a total of 641 points out of 72 arrows. His teammates Jang Yong Ho and veteran Park Kyung Mo was second and third respectively.
China's Yong Fujun, bronze medalist of the World Cup in Shanghai this September, took the fourth place with a total of 630 points, one point less than Park Kyung Mo.
"I was affected by the stiff wind, but only a little bit," said Yong.
The speed of the wind during the competition reached 8km per hour, but the South Koreans did not take it as an obstacle.
"I have been training at Cheju Island and the condition here is exactly the same as there, so it doesn't matter about this kind of wind," said Lee Yuk Young.
What they really cared was the head wind. "The wind factor is OK," said Park Sung Soo. "What affects the athletes is the wind that blows against us as it affects the timing of each shot."
In the team rankings, South Korea led both in the men's and women's team.
The overall qualification rankings will be decided after the other two sessions to be held on the 10th. The top 32 athletes and 16 teams will advance to the elimination stage. However, each NOC can have a maximum of two athletes into the next stage.