Hammer thrower Kim Tae-hui wins Korea's first athletics medal

Kim Tae-hui of Korea competes during the women's hammer throw final at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China on Friday. [XINHUA/YONHAP]

Kim Tae-hui won Korea’s first athletics medal of the Hangzhou Asian Games on Friday, finishing third in the women’s hammer throw with a personal best 64.14 meters.

Kim trailed behind China’s Wang Zheng, who managed to break the 70-meter mark, and Zhao Jie, but comfortably outpaced the rest of the field to take the bronze medal.

Countrywoman Park Seo-jin was also in the field but finished in last place with 55.54 meters.

Kim’s medal marks the first time Korea has ever reached the podium in women’s hammer throw. The sport has been dominated by China since been introduced as a women’s event at the 2002 Games, with Japan regularly taking the bronze spot.

Kim was the only Korean to claim a medal as athletics began on Friday.

Shot-putters Lee Soo-jung and Jeong Yu-sun missed out on a podium finish in the women’s event, finishing sixth and seventh respectively. Korea did not compete in the men’s or women’s race walking finals or the women’s 10,000 meters.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]