The dominance of the Republic of Korea in Men's Archery could be challenged at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, with countries like China, Ukraine, Great Britain and Japan threatening the dominance.

The ROK men won four medals in the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games, which included medals in the Individual Recurve - Standing category, Team Recurve - Open and the Individual Recurve - W1/W2 category.

Men's Individual Recurve - Standing

In the Men's Individual Recurve - Standing category, Slovakia's Imrich Lyocsa is being seen as a favorite. Lyocsa won gold in the Individual Recurve - Standing competition at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games and a bronze medal in the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games.

Athens silver medalist Tomasz Lezanski of Poland is another medal contender. The 61-year-old has struggled with form in the run-up to the Beijing Paralympics.

China's Dong Zhi could spring a few surprises. The 27-year-old recently won the gold medal in the 2007 IPC Archery World Championships held in Cheongju, Republic of Korea.

Men's Individual Compound - W1

Archer John Cavanagh of Great Britain who claimed the gold medal at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games is touted as a favorite.

American Jeffrey Fabry is another strong medal contender. Fabry won the bronze medal in the Athens Paralympics in 2004. More recently Fabry won the gold medal in the 2007 IPC Archery World Championships held in Cheongju, Republic of Korea.

ROK's An Seong-pyo is another archer who could medal. An won the bronze medal in the 2007 IPC Archery World Championships.

Men's Individual Recurve - W1/W2

Athens 2004 Gold medalist Mario Oehme of Germany seems to be on track to repeat his medal winning performance.

Lee Hong-gu (ROK) who won the bronze medal in Athens 2004 is expected to do well. Lee has been in good form coming into the Beijing Games, having won the gold medal in the 2007 IPC Archery World Championships.

Italian Oscar de Pellegrin and ROK's Jung Young-joo could also medal.

Men's Individual Compound - Open

This is the first time the Men's Individual Compound - Open category has been included in the Paralympic Games and it seems that Canada's Kevin Evans is being touted as a favorite.

Evans won the gold medal in the 2007 IPC Archery World Championships.

Lee Ouk-soo (ROK) is another archer who is expected to medal. Lee won the silver medal in the 2007 IPC Archery World Championships.

Men's Team Recurve - Open

Defending Champions ROK will be hard to beat in the Team Recurve event. The ROK men medaled in the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games as well, winning the bronze medal.

The competition between Japan, Italy and the United States is slated to be close affair, with these teams battling it out for a medal.

Women's Individual Recurve - Standing

With home support working to her advantage, China's Wang Yanhong is expected to repeat her Athens 2004 gold medal winning performance.

But Wang will be up against a number of talented archers vying for the title. Malgorzata Olejnik of Poland is one such archer who could medal. Olejnik won bronze in the Athens Games and a silver in the Sydney Games in 2000.

Kim Ran-sook (ROK) could spring a few surprises as well. Kim recently won the gold medal in the 2008 Bangkok Thailand Championships.

Women's Individual Recurve - W1/W2

With Italy's Paola Fanato and Japan's Naomi Isozaki both absent, this category is up for grabs.

Kathleen Smith - Critchlow of Great Britain is one of the most experienced archers in this particular discipline and is expected to do well. Smith - Critchlow won the silver medal in Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games.

Girismen Gizmem of Turkey could medal as well. The 27-year-old won the bronze medal in the 2007 European Championships in Czech Republic.

Chatellier De Lelia Maufras of France and Cao Xuerong of China could spring a few surprises as well.

Women's Individual Compound - Open

British Archers Danielle Brown and Mel Clarke are expected to be among the front runners in the Women's Individual Compound Open category.

Brown won the gold medal in the 2007 IPC Archery World Championships and Clarke won gold in the 2007 European Invitational Grand Prix at Stoke Mandeville, UK.

Great Britain's Pippa Britton and Zandra Zeppe of Sweden are also seen as contenders for a podium finish.

Women's Team Recurve - Open

Great Britain is expected to do well in the Women's Team Recurve - Open event. The British women won the gold medal in the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games.

The competition between Italy, ROK and China is slated to be closely fought affair, with these teams locking horns in their quest for a medal.

(BOCOG September 7, 2008)