At least 45 gold medals “Peak of condition thanks to rigorous preparation” . 3rd overall.
The Korean national team participating in the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games strengthened their will to win 30 days before the opening of the tournament. The Korea Sports Association held the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games D-30 Media Day at the Jincheon National Athletes Village on the 24th to present the Asian Games preparation process and goals.
Hangzhou Asian Games D-30 Media Day held on the 24th at the Jincheon National Training Center. Taekwondo national team players are training. Jincheon = Senior Reporter Jewon Lee
12,500 players from 45 countries will participate in the Asian Games, which will be held in China for the third time after Beijing 1990 and Guangzhou 2010. Korea dispatches 1,140 athletes to 39 events. The Sports Association set a goal of 45 to 50 gold medals and third place in the Asian Games. Considering that Korea ranked 3rd overall with 49 gold medals in 2018 Jakarta-Palembang, many are evaluated as conservative. It was pointed out that Japan should set an aggressive goal to surpass Japan as it regained the second place that it had given up to Korea for 20 years since Hiroshima in 1994 with 75 gold medals in the last tournament.
Regarding this, Chairman Lee Ki-heung (68) said, “Because we are in the process of changing generations, we cannot go up in a day or two, and the fact that the tournament did not go smoothly due to the new coronavirus infection (Corona 19) pandemic (pandemic) also had an impact.” has made active investments while hosting the Tokyo Olympics.” “It is true that our players have made progress, and we expect them to do well in swimming, baduk, and breaking,” he predicted, “the gap with Japan will recover to more than 10 gold medals.”
The Korea Sports Association expected to win six gold medals in swimming and archery, and news of four victories in fencing, taekwondo, and modern pentathlon. He also hoped for gold medals in badminton, golf, shooting, sports climbing, judo, roller skating, and e-sports.
Athletes are working hard to achieve their goals. Jang Jae-geun (61), head of the Jincheon National Athletes’ Village, said, “I thought that the rankings were pushed down in the last competition, which emphasized autonomy, so we strengthened training to strengthen the players’ mental strength.” Blocked,” he said. In addition, all athletes in each event are obliged to participate in early morning training and participate in group mountain training once every two weeks.
Amidst the harsh schedule, the physical condition of the players is also heading to the peak. Sung Gi-ra (26), the gold medalist in Jiu-Jitsu at the last tournament, said, “I first came to the athlete’s village, and they systematically manage injuries as well as training. She’s in better shape than ever. She’s looking forward to a gold medal,” she laughs. Kim Hun-woo (36, Wing) of Breaking, which was adopted as an official event for the first time in this competition, said, “Breaking is an event that came out of free hip-hop. Thank you,” he greeted the village chief and laughed. He continued, “I have been free in the meantime, but I am living as a sportsperson here,” and “I am preparing for the tournament with a sense of mission to promote Korean breaking as a sport.”안전놀이터
Gu Bon-gil (34), a fencing male fencing player who is trying to win his 4th consecutive victory in the Asian Games, said, “Challenging 4th consecutive victory means that we have grown old.” If he wins the individual and team events at this event, Gu Bon-gil will win seven gold medals in his career. This is the most new record, surpassing the six held by Park Tae-hwan (swimming) and Nam Hyeon-hee (fencing).
Kim Hyeon-woo (34), the representative of Korean wrestling, prepared for the tournament with the determination to reestablish the status of Korean wrestling. He declared, “I feel strongly that the wrestling record that gave Korea the first Olympic gold medal was not good,” and “I will restore the confidence of Korean wrestling through this tournament.”
As the tournament is held in China, territorial behavior is expected. In response, Choi Yoon (60), the team leader, explained, “We are consulting with the Sports Association and the head of the Athletes’ Village so that we can respond well when there is a judgment dispute.” did.
Meanwhile, on the same day, Chairman Lee announced that Kim Tae-hyun (23, Vegalta Sendai), who is active in Japan, joined as a substitute for Lee Sang-min, who was excluded from the soccer team due to a drinking controversy.