S. Korean athletes keeping focus on selves, not opponents, ahead of Asian Games

JINCHEON, South Korea, Aug. 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korean epee fencer Song Se-ra is reportedly peaking just in time for the upcoming Asian Games, which start on September 19 in Aichi, Japan. The 32-year-old secured her second career world title last month in Hong Kong. When the Asian Games kick off, Song will face a new set of challenges.

At her first Asian Games three years ago, she won the individual silver medal and helped her team secure the gold. Song said she will not be content with those results and will go into this year's event with a new mindset. She believes she performs best when she focuses on her own performance and not the results or other athletes.

Vaulter Yeo Seo-jeong, who will compete in her second Asian Games, acknowledged North Korean An Chang-ok as a great athlete but will not worry about her presence. She says she will focus on her own performance. Weightlifter Park Hye-jeong, who won the women's +87 kilograms gold medal in 2023, will face a tough competition against a world-class opponent.

Park will channel her pressure into positive energy and aims to bring home a medal. Boxer Im Ae-ji, who lost in her first round at the past two Asian Games, aims to reach the final this time. She has dealt with the weight of expectations and is trying to have more faith in herself. In team sports, South Korea's men's basketball and volleyball teams failed to reach the podium at the 2023 Asian Games.

Captains Lee Seong-hyun and Cha Young-seok are optimistic about the upcoming competition and believe their teams will perform better.