{
  "id": 2094871,
  "title": "Korean athletes keeping focus on selves, not opponents, ahead of Asian Games",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/korean-athletes-keeping-focus-on-selves-not-opponents-ahead-of-asian",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-20T07:52:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/sports/20260820/korean-athletes-keeping-focus-on-selves-not-opponents-ahead-of-asian-games"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "JINCHEON — Korean epee fencer Song Se-ra appears to be reaching her peak just ahead of the Asian Games, which begin next month in Japan. The 32-year-old secured her second career world title in Hong Kong last month. At her Asian Games debut three years ago, Song claimed the individual silver medal and teamed up with teammate Choi In-jeong for the team gold. Song, speaking at the South Korean delegation's joint press conference, emphasized that she won't be satisfied with those achievements and will enter the event with a new mindset. She stated that she has been performing well recently and feels at her best when focusing solely on her own performance, rather than results or other athletes. Song expressed her intention to enjoy the experience. Vaulter Yeo Seo-jeong will also participate in her second Asian Games.",
  "summary": "JINCHEON — Korean epee fencer Song Se-ra appears to be peaking just in time for the Asian Games starting next month, having bagged her second career world title last month in Hong Kong. The 32-year-old said Thursday she will be ready for a fresh set of challenges when the top Asian multisport competition kicks off Sept. 19 in the Japanese prefecture of Aichi. At her Asian Games debut three years…",
  "key_points": [
    "Korean epee fencer Song Se-ra aims for personal best at Asian Games.",
    "Song secured second career world title in Hong Kong last month.",
    "Fencer focuses on self-performance, not opponents or results."
  ],
  "editors_take": "By focusing on her own performance rather than rivals, Song Se-ra is shifting her mindset to target personal bests, indicating a strategy to elevate her competitive edge at the Asian Games.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yonhap News",
        "title": "Top swimmers say are confident S. Korea can repeat Asian Games success",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/top-swimmers-say-are-confident-s-korea-can-repeat-asian-games-success",
        "published": "2026-08-20T07:57:35.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Top swimmers confident Korea can repeat Asian Games success",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/top-swimmers-confident-korea-can-repeat-asian-games-success",
        "published": "2026-08-20T08:07:02.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}