Wish Me Luck, Baby.

"I`m sorry for making you arduous. Instead, I promise I will make you comfortable when you are born."

Whispering to her unborn child, Chung Chang-suk (30, Seo gu office, Daegu) went to play in the semifinals of female individual in the 6th Korea indoor archery tournament on the 10th, in Chungmoo Gymnasium in Daejun. She participated in the tournament, having her abdomen tightened with a fabric. After she got pregnant, she always talked to her baby for emotional sharing. From time to time the unborn baby kicked her mother while she was talking. Then, she stroked her abdomen thinking,"The baby is listening to me."

This is the opening tournament for national archery tournaments so outstanding archers are participating in this authoritative tournament. Chung Chang-suk who was in the ninth month of pregnancy entered into the semifinals, defeating other archeresses.

She met her junior Kim Eun-ryung in the semifinal on the 10th. In indoor archery tournaments, players shoot twelve arrows aiming the target which is 18m ahead, so it needs high concentration and self-confidence. Moreover, the plays on the 10th were broadcasted over the TV so the players were more nervous than usual.

Until the second end (an end consists of 3 shots), Kim Eun-ryung was leading the game with the scores of 57-56. However, after the first shot of the third end, the outcome was determined. As the arrow shot through the very center of target, Chung Chang-suk scored ten points. On the other hand, Kim Eun-ryung scored eight points and the score was overturned. After the play, Chung smiled and said, “When I was about to shoot the first shot in the third end, the baby moved. It was like the baby was saying to me to shoot immediately. I shot before I knew it and it scored 10 points.”

In the final, Chung was defeated with the scores of 115-118, by Ahn Se-jin (Daejun City Hall) who is a member of national team and is in her peak. However, it is very grand for her to win the semifinals as a parturient woman. She gained weight about 10kg with the pregnancy and she could not complete weight training and circuit training which is essential for the archers. So she had to rely on only her instinct and won the semifinals.

"The baby often kicks when I am home, but it surprisingly becomes calm when I pick up my bow in the field," she said.

She added, "Maybe the baby knows that I am an archeress. My records are improved since the pregnancy because I feel settled." She had been a member of national team for four years since 1997, and participated in various international tournaments. Her ability is widely acknowledged in the archery community.

"I thought that it would be better move around and keep shooting the arrows than rest home. My husband also agreed pleasantly. Later, my child will feel proud when I tell that I was with him or her in the field when I won the semifinals."

She is planning to participate in the 16th national indoor archery tournament in Sangmoo Gymnasium next week. Her expected day is next month.

On the same day, Choi Won-jong (Sangmoo) won the final of male individual tournament, defeating Kim Kyung-ho (Kyeyand gu office, Incheon) with the scores of 119-118.

Sang-Soo Kim ssoo@donga.com