The Seoul City Hall para-athletics team achieved remarkable success at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games, winning a total of 12 medals, including 5 golds. This is double the 6 medals earned at the 2023 Hangzhou Games. The athletes' relentless efforts, combined with stable training environments and support from Seoul City, have led to these valuable results on the Asian stage.
Seoul City announced on the 26th that 13 athletes from the Seoul City Hall team competed as national representatives in 7 events at the Asian Para Games held in Japan from October 18 to 24, securing 5 gold, 5 silver, and 2 bronze medals.
Table tennis was the standout sport, contributing 10 medals in total: 4 golds, 5 silvers, and 1 bronze, showcasing the strength of the Seoul City Hall team. The team also added medals in archery and weightlifting, with each sport contributing one gold and one bronze.
In table tennis, Kim Ki-tae emerged as a two-time champion, winning both the men's singles and doubles events, and also claimed a silver in the mixed doubles, standing on the podium three times during the competition.
In the men's singles final, teammates Park Jin-cheol and Kim Kyung-hyun faced off, competing for the top spot in Asia. Park Jin-cheol won the gold medal, while Kim Kyung-hyun took silver. The two also teamed up to win a silver in the men's doubles. Park Jin-cheol added another silver in the mixed doubles.
The only 'mom athlete' on the team, Jeong Yeong-ah, also earned three medals, winning gold in the women's doubles, silver in the women's singles, and bronze in the mixed doubles, highlighting her status as a key player.
In archery, Park Hong-jo achieved a second consecutive victory in the W1 mixed team event, defeating China in a closely contested final that went to a shoot-off, reclaiming the title from the Hangzhou Games.
In weightlifting, Kim Hyung-hee lifted 107 kg in the women's 67 kg category to win a bronze medal. This marks her third consecutive podium finish, following her successes at the 2018 Indonesia Games and the 2023 Hangzhou Games, demonstrating her sustained excellence in Asia.
Behind these achievements is the support from Seoul City, which has established a solid foundation for athletes to focus on training. The city invests approximately 3.7 billion won annually to operate a para sports team with 8 events and 45 athletes, aiming to alleviate the financial burdens on athletes and support their stable athletic careers.
Training support is also evolving to incorporate data and science. The use of 3D motion analysis helps identify technical improvements in athletes' movements, while continuous glucose monitoring tailored to different disabilities aids in condition management.
Additionally, generative artificial intelligence (AI) has been introduced to assist coaches with video and data analysis and training program planning. This aims to provide customized training for athletes with varying disabilities and physical conditions, enhancing performance through objective analysis.
The city will also reward the athletes for their achievements. Medalists will receive 15 million won for gold, 10 million won for silver, and 7 million won for bronze. Performance will be actively considered in the selection process for athlete development funding during next year's salary negotiations.
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon will host a lunch meeting with the athletes on the 28th to commend their hard work. He plans to hear their thoughts on the competition and training process and congratulate them for elevating the status of Seoul and South Korea on the Asian stage.
Cho Sung-ho, director of the Seoul City Tourism and Sports Bureau, expressed, "The determination of the athletes to overcome their limits and achieve valuable results has brought great pride and inspiration to all citizens." He added, "Social support is essential for the growth of para sports, and we will continue to provide ongoing support to help athletes fully realize their potential."
Seoul City announced on the 26th that 13 athletes from the Seoul City Hall team competed as national representatives in 7 events at the Asian Para Games held in Japan from October 18 to 24, securing 5 gold, 5 silver, and 2 bronze medals.
Table tennis was the standout sport, contributing 10 medals in total: 4 golds, 5 silvers, and 1 bronze, showcasing the strength of the Seoul City Hall team. The team also added medals in archery and weightlifting, with each sport contributing one gold and one bronze.
In table tennis, Kim Ki-tae emerged as a two-time champion, winning both the men's singles and doubles events, and also claimed a silver in the mixed doubles, standing on the podium three times during the competition.
In the men's singles final, teammates Park Jin-cheol and Kim Kyung-hyun faced off, competing for the top spot in Asia. Park Jin-cheol won the gold medal, while Kim Kyung-hyun took silver. The two also teamed up to win a silver in the men's doubles. Park Jin-cheol added another silver in the mixed doubles.
The only 'mom athlete' on the team, Jeong Yeong-ah, also earned three medals, winning gold in the women's doubles, silver in the women's singles, and bronze in the mixed doubles, highlighting her status as a key player.
In archery, Park Hong-jo achieved a second consecutive victory in the W1 mixed team event, defeating China in a closely contested final that went to a shoot-off, reclaiming the title from the Hangzhou Games.
In weightlifting, Kim Hyung-hee lifted 107 kg in the women's 67 kg category to win a bronze medal. This marks her third consecutive podium finish, following her successes at the 2018 Indonesia Games and the 2023 Hangzhou Games, demonstrating her sustained excellence in Asia.
Behind these achievements is the support from Seoul City, which has established a solid foundation for athletes to focus on training. The city invests approximately 3.7 billion won annually to operate a para sports team with 8 events and 45 athletes, aiming to alleviate the financial burdens on athletes and support their stable athletic careers.
Training support is also evolving to incorporate data and science. The use of 3D motion analysis helps identify technical improvements in athletes' movements, while continuous glucose monitoring tailored to different disabilities aids in condition management.
Additionally, generative artificial intelligence (AI) has been introduced to assist coaches with video and data analysis and training program planning. This aims to provide customized training for athletes with varying disabilities and physical conditions, enhancing performance through objective analysis.
The city will also reward the athletes for their achievements. Medalists will receive 15 million won for gold, 10 million won for silver, and 7 million won for bronze. Performance will be actively considered in the selection process for athlete development funding during next year's salary negotiations.
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon will host a lunch meeting with the athletes on the 28th to commend their hard work. He plans to hear their thoughts on the competition and training process and congratulate them for elevating the status of Seoul and South Korea on the Asian stage.
Cho Sung-ho, director of the Seoul City Tourism and Sports Bureau, expressed, "The determination of the athletes to overcome their limits and achieve valuable results has brought great pride and inspiration to all citizens." He added, "Social support is essential for the growth of para sports, and we will continue to provide ongoing support to help athletes fully realize their potential."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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