(Asiad) S. Korean swimmers seek to defend relay title; football teams set for inter-Korean clash

NAGOYA, Japan, Sept. 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korean swimmers aim to retain their men's relay crown at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Monday. Meanwhile, the women's football team prepares for an historic encounter against North Korea, marking the first inter-Korean match of the Games. The men's swimming quartet consists of Hwang Sun-woo, Kim Woo-min, Lee Ho-joon, and Kim Young-beom.

The team clinched gold at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games. Kim Young-beom, a 20-year-old swimmer, secured silver in the men's 100m freestyle event in the preceding game. Hwang finished third in the same event. Kim recently broke Hwang's Korean record in the 100m, demonstrating his growing prowess. The women's volleyball squad faces Japan in the semifinals, a victory securing a spot in the Asian Games final for the first time since 2014.

South Korea exited medal contention after losing in the quarterfinals during the previous Asiad in China. Meanwhile, South Korea's baseball squad sets its sights on a fifth consecutive Asian Games title, beginning with a Group B match against Chinese Taipei. In the women's football competition, South Korea and North Korea will clash in a Group F match, the first of its kind at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

Both nations have already qualified for the quarterfinals with two wins each. Monday's match is crucial in determining the Group F champion. In the shooting events, Park Ha-jun, Gwon Hyeop-jun, and Shin Min-ki will vie for gold in the men's 10-meter air rifle individual and team competitions at the Aichi Prefectural General Shooting Gallery in Toyota.

In wushu, An Hyeon-gi aims for the second Korean gold medal in taijiquan & taijijian since Yang Seong-chan's victory at the 2002 Asian Games.