South Korea is aiming for 40 to 45 gold medals to finish third overall, with early medal races coming in disciplines like wushu, modern pentathlon, shooting and swimming.
The first chance for a gold medal comes Sunday morning in wushu, a martial art often called kung fu, when Lee Yong-hyun competes in the men's changquan taolu, a fast-paced Long Fist routine.
But much of the attention will be on modern pentathlon which comprise of five different disciplines of fencing, obstacle racing, swimming, shooting and running, where athletes will vie for four gold medals in the men's and women's individual and team events.
Much of the attention will be on modern pentathlon, which combines five disciplines including fencing, obstacle racing, swimming, shooting and running, with four gold medals up for grabs in the men's and women's individual and team events.
In the women's competition, Seong Seung-min will lead South Korea's team after finishing runner-up in her semifinal race on Thursday, ahead of the Games' official opening. The other three South Korean athletes such as Shin Su-min, Kim Eun-ju and Jang Ha-eun also advanced to the final.
In the men's event, Jeon Woong-tae, Kim Young-ha, Lee Jong-hyeon and Seo Chang-wan will compete in Sunday's final if they make it through the semifinals later in the day.
South Korea also expects to win medals in shooting and swimming the same day, with triathlon, cycling, karate and teqball competitions also scheduled.
As the opening weekend brings a flurry of medal chances, attention will be on whether South Korean athletes can get off to a strong start and build momentum toward their goal of up to 45 gold medals.
This year's Asian Games will bring together more than 15,000 participants from 45 countries, who will compete for some 469 gold medals until Oct. 4.
Meanwhile, athletes who arrived for the Games have already complained about poor lodging, the lack of a proper athletes' village and other facilities. Organizers have defended the arrangements as part of efforts to cut costs and promote sustainability, while critics have questioned whether the measures reflect poor planning, raising concerns about whether athletes will be able to perform at their best.
AJP Takeaways
- South Korea will begin its Asian Games gold-medal campaign on the opening weekend in Nagoya, Japan, with early medal opportunities in wushu, modern pentathlon, shooting and swimming.
- South Korean modern pentathlon athletes, including Seong Seung-min, Shin Su-min, Kim Eun-ju and Jang Ha-eun, will compete for medals, with four gold medals available across the men's and women's individual and team events.
- The Asian Games will feature more than 15,000 participants from 45 countries, competing for approximately 469 gold medals through Oct. 4, while athlete concerns over lodging and facilities have drawn attention ahead of competition.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.
