(LEAD) (Asiad) Lee Jun-suk becomes inaugural gold medalist in men's teqball

Jun Woong-tae, a South Korean modern pentathlete, has missed his third consecutive individual gold in the sport at the Asian Games, but helped his nation retain the team title. During the final event at Anjo Sports Park in Anjo, Japan, on Sunday, Jun finished second, accumulating 1,595 points in five events including fencing, swimming, obstacle course racing and laser run.

Despite not securing the individual gold for a third time, the South Korean team emerged victorious, scoring a combined 4,779 points, surpassing China's 4,768 and Kazakhstan's 4,647. This second consecutive team gold for South Korea marked the second time Jun had won both individual and team medals at an Asian Games, following his victories in the 2018 edition.

Expressing satisfaction, Jun stated that the team medal was more significant to him than the individual gold. The athlete emphasized that this achievement could bolster the prominence of modern pentathlon in South Korea. Reflecting on the final laser run, where he began ninth but ultimately placed second, Jun recounted his initial doubts about missing the medal stand.

However, his coach's reassurance about it being his last competition motivated him to give his all. Jun, despite his missed individual gold hope, remains committed to the sport, expressing his intention to continue competing and working toward the Los Angeles Olympics. He acknowledged that the growing public awareness of modern pentathlon, as evidenced by South Korea's successful performances at multisport events, underscores the impact of the sport's recent successes.