Park Sung Hyun, the double winner of the Athens Olympics, led the 60 meters women sharp shooters with a total of 1,339 points from four rounds, featuring four distances of 70m, 60m, 50m and 30m, followed by compatriots Yun Ok Hee, Lee Tuk Young and Yun Mi Jin.

However, according to the Asian Games archery rules, a maximum of two athletes from one team can enter the elimination round, which produces the medals. Thus Lee Tuk Young and Yun Mi Jin were out.

"I'm just sorry that only two of them can proceed to the elimination round when they have finished top four," said their coach Park Sung Soo. "Each of them have prepared and trained so hard for the Asian Games and each one of them, of course, wants tocompete in the individual event.

"Even without the wind today they were under a lot of pressure because they are all top archers, and therefore they are competingagainst each other, as only two of them can move onto the elimination."

The women's individual gold medal will be offered on Monday.

"Tomorrow is more important and they will feel a lot more pressure than today as they have done well today," said Park Sung Soo. "We will train for a bit today and go back to rest for tomorrow."

China's Qian Jialing, currently ranked world number one, was also deprived the chance of competing for a medal after finishing the ninth overall but the third within the team.

"Actually my loss was decided yesterday," said Qian, whose total score was 1,295 points, two less than her two compatriots. "I had a bad start."

Her second arrow of the qualification round on Saturday went out of target, which caused a zero.

However, Qian's scores today was not at her normal standard either.

"She was a bit nervous too, that is why she did not shoot well today," said Tian Yuling, coach of the Chinese women's team.

In the men's rankings, Im Dong Hyun, the bronze medalist of theAsian Games in Busan 2002, finished top with a total of 1,332 points. The second-placed veteran Park Kyung Mo, advanced to the next stage together with the 20-year-old Im.

"Although it was tough competing amongst ourselves for the two spots to move into the elimination round, I feel good that I was able to finish first and be able to compete in the individual event," said Im. "I will take this achievement as a sign to do my very best in the next round. With fellow teammate Park, we will aim to take gold and silver."