China
ROK Asiad News
(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-11-15 07:52
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2014 Asiad
2014 Asian Games to promote regional harmony
The 2014 Asian Games in Republic of Korea's port city of Incheon will be a festival of not only sports but also of culture, art and academic events, aiming to be the best Asian Games ever held, the head of the organising committee said.
"We hope the competition will serve as a means to change the perception people all over the world have towards history and sports," said Lee Yun-taek, president of the Incheon Asian Games Organising Committee. "The 2014 Incheon Asian Games must be seen as more than taking on the role of enhancing a nation's prestige, such as how the Olympics and previous Asian Games have played, and so we seek to create a mature event that contributes to creating an Asian culture."
Part of this "maturity" includes the IAGOC's preparation of its Vision 2014 programme that calls for actively supporting countries with a low track record of winning medals to help realise their dream of clinching a medal. Some of the efforts would include providing training grounds and know-how to raise the chances of these countries taking a medal home. Among the 45-member countries and regions, 12 have yet to win a gold medal, while three countries have not yet garnered one single medal.
The Vision 2014 programme, a seven-year agenda, features a $20 million budget that has been put into use since 2008. Incheon has invited rising stars of the selected countries, sent top-notch coaches and built sport facilities and equipment.
The 17th Asian Games will be held from September 19 to October 4 in Incheon, 37 kilometres west of Seoul.
"We will also do our best to make this event an opportunity to open the doors to the 'Asia era' and strengthen the friendship and cooperation of the Asian community," Lee said. Lee was the former president of the Korean Olympic Committee and co-chairman of the Korean World Cup Organising Committee for the 2020 World Cup Korea-Japan.
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Table tennis
Korean men's table tennis promises a good fight
The South Korean men's table tennis team promises a good show at the Asian Games in Guangzhou underway from Nov 12 to 27.
The national team aims to make it to at least the semifinals of men's singles and doubles events and to reach the final of the men's team event in the hope of winning gold medals.
Expectations toward the men's table tennis team were high during the 2006 Asian Games in Doha after Ryu Seung-min took gold in the men's singles with a dramatic win over China's Wang Hao at the Athens Olympics in 2004.
But South Korea surrendered to the might of China at the Doha Asian Games and fell short, garnering two silver and three bronze medals.
Head coach Kim Taek-soo said Korean players have practiced strenuously to prepare themselves against China's style of play, represented by power, speed and strength.
"China has become stronger, and so have countries and regions like Japan and Hong Kong. I think we can aim for gold medals when we get to the semifinals and finals. For the men's singles and doubles events, we hope to advance to at least the semifinals," Kim said in a recent interview with Xinhua.
Although Athens gold medalist Ryu Seung-min is absent on the national squad for this Asian Games, the coach casts no doubt on the team's strength.
"We have suffered many defeats against China. This time, we will fight again with a mind to give a challenge," said South Korean table tennis player Oh Sang-eun.
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Basketball
Men's basketball team seeks to redeem itself
The South Korean men's basketball team will seek to bounce back from its dismal finish in the 2006 Asian Games, the team's head coach Yoo Jae-hak said in a recent interview with Xinhua.
The team wound up in fifth place at the previous Asian Games held in Doha, failing to earn a medal for the first time in 48 years. It suffered another humiliating result at the 2009 FIBA Asian Championship in Tianjin as it finished in seventh place.
To prepare for the Guangzhou Games, the basketball team held overseas training sessions in the United States twice this year. South Korea also recruited NBA Hall of Fame coach Lenny Wilkens as a technical adviser for the national team.
To boost their chances, the team also opened its door to more Koreans from foreign countries.
Lee Seung-jun, a naturalized player who joined the squad as a center, shared his excitement about being part of the national team.
"First of all, I'm very, honored to be a part of the team. My goal is to do the best we can. In 2002 we won the gold medal in Busan and our goal, definitely, is to recreate the magic we had in 2002," said Lee, who joined the Korean Basketball League last year.
The 2.06-meter Lee is expected to give balance to the team against opponents such as China and Middle East teams with greater height and physique.
Yoo expressed his confidence in the national team's teamwork. "The South Korean basketball team's strength is that players unite as one. And their unity is expressed through defense. I think that is the strongest aspect of the team."
The immediate goal for the national team is to ride into medal contention, and if it succeeds, the ultimate goal is to top the competition, according to Yoo. .
Koreaherald.com - Xinhua