China
South Korea prepped for Japan
(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-11-15 07:52
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Ongoing battle in sport for second place
SEOUL - South Korea is unlikely to challenge China as the Asian Games top medal-winning country, but it is set for another big battle - against Japan for the runner-up spot.
The Koreans won the race against their archrival in Doha four years ago, claiming 58 gold to Japan's 50 as they finished second for the third games in a row.
But they lost out in the overall stakes with a total of 193 medals to Japan's 198 at an event overshadowed by the tragic death of Korean equestrian rider Kim Hyung-chil.
Heading to Guangzhou in November, South Korea has a host of gold medal opportunities, and the extravaganza will also be a chance for some high-profile names to bounce back after poor performances this year.
Heading the list is swimmer Park Tae-hwan, who burst onto the scene in Doha as a 17-year-old with golds in the 200, 400 and 1,500-meter freestyle, earning him the games' most valuable player award.
He carried the form into the 2007 World Championships, winning the 400-meter freestyle before becoming the first South Korean male swimmer to win gold at an Olympics in Beijing in 2008.
But it went downhill from there - he failed to even reach the finals in 200, 400 and 1,500-meter events at the 2009 worlds.
Park has been training in Guam and said he is ready to bounce back in Guangzhou as the games got underway on Nov 12.
"I think I will be all wound up ahead of the Asian Games, but I hope to come home smiling," he told reporters.
"I will build on my good performance at the Pan Pacifics and keep up the work I've been putting in all along."
At the same time South Korea is looking to make amends for losing the baseball title in Doha to Taiwan, a sport they usually dominate.
They have showed their intentions by naming Cleveland Indians outfielder Choo Shin-soo to their roster.
"We have the best possible lineup to win the gold medal," national team manager Cho Beom-hyun was quoted by Yonhap news agency as saying.
On the judo mats, Choi Min-ho, who won Olympic gold in the men's 60-kilogram division, will be in action, as will Beijing Olympic silver medallists Kim Jae-bum (81 kg) and Wang Ki-chun (73 kg).
Female weightlifter Jang Mi-ran is another established name after winning Olympic gold and four world championships in the over-75 kg division.
Despite holding the world record for total weight in her class, she has yet to get herself an Asiad title, but is hopeful that will soon change.
"I will be back to put in a good performance at the Asian Games," she said after finishing third at the world championships in Turkey last month.
As one of Asia's top football nations, the Koreans are looking for success in Guangzhou with AS Monaco striker Park Chu-young included as an over-age player.
Park played at this year's World Cup, as did midfielder Kim Jung-woo, who should also start.
But youngster Ki Sung-yueng has been refused permission to play by his Scottish club Celtic.
They have been grouped with neighbor Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Jordan and the Palestinian territories, with the top two teams progressing to the next round.
Agence France-Presse