S. Korea to start gold medal campaign on 1st day of medal events

NAGOYA, Japan — South Korea is poised to kick off its gold medal aspirations from the opening day of the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya and Aichi Prefecture. With a team of 1,051 athletes and officials competing, the nation aims to secure up to 45 gold medals and finish third in the overall medal standings, behind China and Japan. The inaugural gold may be claimed by the women's modern pentathlon.

Seong Seung-min, instrumental in South Korea's bronze in the women's team event during the previous Asian Games, has cemented her status as the first South Korean woman to triumph in the world championships, following that up with an Olympic medal. She will join three fellow South Korean pentathletes, Kim Un-ju, Shin Su-min, and Jang Ha-eun, in the 18-athlete final on Sunday.

Male pentathletes will make their appearance later that day, with reigning Asian Games champion Jun Woong-tae aiming for his third consecutive individual gold and a second team gold alongside Seo Chang-wan, Lee Jong-hyeon, and Kim Young-ha.