Gwangju: South Korean archer Lee Woo-seok admitted that his physical condition was not ideal as he entered the world championships held on home ground this month. Despite his hopes of reaching at least the quarterfinals, Lee's journey was cut short in the round of 16, where he was defeated by Matias Grande of Mexico at the May 18 Democracy Plaza, situated 270 kilometers south of Seoul.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee, who secured an individual bronze medal at the 2024 Olympics, remains optimistic despite his early elimination. He expressed his determination to learn from this experience to avoid similar setbacks in future competitions, including the Asian Games, the next world championships, and potentially the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. "My top priority will be to ensure I won't make the same mistakes if I get a chance to compete at the Olympics," Lee stated.

Lee's physical struggles have overshadowed his season, including a stress-induced illness that once required emergency room treatment. After clinching the men's team title with teammates Kim Woo-jin and Kim Je-deok on Wednesday, Lee disclosed that he had been battling inflammation and a high fever of 38.3 C, which prompted him to seek medical attention.

"The hot weather conditions here have exacerbated my fever and blood pressure," Lee explained. Despite these challenges, he refused to make excuses and acknowledged the need to take better care of his health before competitions. "I should have done a better job of taking care of my body," he added.

In addition to his health issues, Lee faced technical difficulties with his equipment. A problem with his bow during the match forced him to switch to a backup, which was not tuned to his usual specifications. "I realized I have to keep their setups consistent in case of contingencies like this," Lee said, noting that this would be beneficial for his future competitions.