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Naomi Folkard plans retirement after Olympic defeat

Great Britain's Naomi Folkard says that she intends to retire from archery after losing in the Olympic quarter-finals.

Great Britain's Naomi Folkard has said that she is ready for retirement from archery after 11 years in the sport.

On Thursday, Folkard suffered a 7-1 defeat to Chang Hyejin in the last eight of the women's individual event, and the Kidderminster archer has suggested that she is ready to move on to a new chapter in her life.

The 32-year-old told reporters: "I was a bit nervous on that first set and it was quite windy which affected me more than it should have as I held onto the shots too long, but I stayed strong after that and shot a lot of good shots after that, including quite a few 10 so I'm really proud of that.

"To finish top eight in the Olympic Games is something I couldn't have dreamt of a few months ago. I'm not planning on continuing. I've been a full-time archer for 11 years and I need a life.

"I want to get into coaching. I will always be involved in the sport. You never know they might persuade me to come back but I need at least one year out. I'm 32 and I don't have a pension and really I need to get a job."

Folkard retires from archery having represented Team GB at four Olympic Games.

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Darren Plant
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Naomi Folkard of Great Britain competes against Nicky Hunt of Great Britain in the Archery Women's Individual 1/32 Elimination during day seven of the Baku 2015 European Games at the Tofiq Bahramov Stadium on June 19, 2015
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