(Asiad) S. Korea's gold-medal hopes span modern pentathlon to archery at Asian Games

Korea is poised to launch its gold-medal bid at the forthcoming Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, starting with the women's modern pentathlon on the inaugural day of competition, according to an analysis published by Yonhap News Agency on Tuesday. The quadrennial Asian sporting event, set to unfold on Japanese soil for the first time in 32 years, will commence its 16-day festivities on Saturday, with a total of 469 gold medals up for grabs across 43 sports.

Korea will field over 1,000 athletes and officials across 41 sports for the Asian Games, aiming for up to 45 gold medals.

The Yonhap analysis suggests that Korea could secure its maiden gold medal from Seong Seung-min in the women's modern pentathlon on Sunday, the opening day of competition. Seong etched her name in history by clinching the 2024 World Modern Pentathlon Championships, becoming the first Korean woman to triumph in the event. Notably, she also clinched an Olympic medal at the Paris Summer Olympics that same year, marking her as the first Asian female pentathlete to achieve such a feat.

Additionally, multiple gold medals are anticipated in swimming from Monday, with Korea's medal aspirations anchored by the men's 4x200-meter freestyle relay and 200-meter freestyle events starring Kim Woo-min and Hwang Sun-woo.