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The 17th Asian Games opens in Incheon, South Korea, tomorrow with the host nation looking to end a disappointing sporting year on a high and China hoping to continue recent dominance of the event. |
After Friday’s opening ceremony, around 10,000 athletes from 45 countries will compete in 36 sports for 439 medals until the Games close on October 4.
The 831 athletes in the South Korean team will be aware that they can offer some redemption after 2014 started with a below-par Winter Olympics in Sochi and continued with a group stage exit from the football World Cup in Brazil in summer.
In-between the country was also rocked by the tragedy which claimed the lives of nearly 300 people, mostly school children, when a ferry sank en route from Incheon to the southern island of Jeju.
“We’ve prepared for the Asian Games with a firm goal, and I believe it will bear fruits,” South Korean chef de mission Park Soon Ho told the Yonhap agency.
“I hope this Asiad will help heal the wounds of the people caused by many tragedies, including the ferry disaster.”
South Korea have set a target of 90 gold medals which should be more than enough to reach their goal of second in the medal table ahead of rivals Japan.
The hosts have 831 athletes taking part in the Games and with several champions from the 2012 London Olympics on board, they have reason to be confident.
Archery is a particular strength for South Korea and reigning Olympic champion Oh Jin Hyek, who will recite the athlete’s oath at the opening ceremony, is expected to lead the medal charge.
Lee Yong Dae and Yoo Yeon Seong are ranked number one in the world for men’s doubles in badminton while local hero Son Yeon Jae will compete in front of sold out crowds at the rhythmic gymnastics.
Organisers have said that ticket sales have been poor for several events, particularly the lesser known sports or those in which South Korea are deemed to have little chance of winning.
But there will be no shortage of backing for swimmer Park Tae Hwan, who won 2008 Olympic gold in the 400 metre freestyle and claimed 100, 200 and 400 metre golds at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.
Park lost the Olympic final to Chinese rival Sun Yang in London and Sun, after a series of run-ins with the authorities, has not been shy in voicing his confidence ahead of the next set of contests between the pair.
Yonhap reported Sun had pointed out in a television advert that he was the faster man while Park was more restrained in his outlook.
“My goal is to post good records at every race,” Park told the news agency.
“If I can do that, then I should get the desired colour of medals.
Then once all the races are done, I will be able to smile.”
Sun is one of 33 Olympic champions in the Chinese delegation which will almost certainly continue its record of topping every Asian Games medal table since 1982. In Guangzhou 2010, the team claimed 199 golds.
At the other end of the scale, countries such as East Timor, the Maldives and Bhutan are searching for their first medals of any colour at the competition.
The delegation to attract special attention is that of North Korea, who sent 150 athletes to compete in the South - even if their famous cheerleading squad was left behind as a result of political bickering.
Weightlifting Olympics champions Om Yun Chol, Kim Un Guk and Rim Jong Sim are all aiming for gold while the women’s football team made a winning start to their campaign as preliminary matches started Sunday.
“We prepared very well and I think that is why we made a good result,” coach Kim Kwang Min said after Tuesday’s 5-0 over Vietnam. “We have prepared and trained not only for this particular game, but also for the entire Asian Games.”
