SEOUL: The Asian Games will be a “new beginning” for the South Korean sport, a top official said, with badminton world number one An Se-young spearheading the country’s largest-ever team at the competition.
The Games will start in the Chinese city of Hangzhou on September 23 and South Korea will take 867 athletes to the Olympic-sized event.
South Korea has consistently ranked second in the medals table at the Asian Games, trailing China. However, in 2018, they slipped to third place with both China and Japan surpassing them in medal count.
Lee Kee-heung, the president of the Korean Sport and Olympic Committee, emphasized the significance of this year’s Asian Games, stating, “This year’s Asian Games will symbolize a fresh beginning for South Korean sports.”
“We have made remarkable progress in various sports and witnessed the emergence of talented young athletes. I am eagerly looking forward to witnessing our athletes take on the challenges at this year’s Asian Games.”
One of South Korea’s main hopes for securing gold at the competition is 21-year-old An, who has had a remarkable year, achieving the top ranking in women’s badminton and clinching the world championship title.
The Games were postponed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and An believes that this additional time has been advantageous for her growth.
She further said, “I believe this past year has provided me with an opportunity to grow.”
Reflecting on her previous performance at the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games, where she exited early, An added, “I was one of the youngest athletes, mostly in the shadows.”
“This time, I come with a strong track record of success. That’s the significant difference.”
