Koreans play with snakes, then win gold

GUANGZHOU, China - Stroking the backside of a tiger, manhandling snakes - female archers at the Asian Games have been put through a bizarre and daunting range of initiations to build up their mental strength.

“I wonder how you found out the secret to our success,” said Cho Eun-sin, the coach of Korean women’s team, after details leaked out about the training encounter with reptiles.

“Actually, the story is about 80 percent true. We do have special training to enhance bravery,” Cho was quoted as saying by the China Daily, refusing to disclose further details.

In preparation for the Asian Games, Chinese archers were required to touch a tiger’s rear at a zoo, the paper said, albeit with less success - the Koreans beating the hosts on Sunday in the women’s team final.

AFP