Seoul: South Korean athlete Jun Woong-tae has advanced to the final in men's modern pentathlon at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, setting the stage for his potential third consecutive Asiad gold medal in the multi-discipline sport.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Jun scored 1,529 points to finish third in Group B during the semifinals. The events, which took place at Anjo Sports Park in Anjo, included fencing, swimming, obstacle course racing, and laser run-a combination of running and shooting. The competition featured 36 modern pentathletes divided into two groups, with the top nine athletes from each group advancing to the final scheduled for Sunday.
Jun is aiming to secure his third Asian Games title in modern pentathlon, having previously won gold medals at the 2018 and 2022 Asian Games. His compatriot, Seo Chang-wan, who finished third at this year's world championships, led Group A with 1,547 points. Lee Jong-hyeon secured second place in Group A with 1,533 points, while Kim Young-ha also advanced to the final, ranking sixth in Group B.
In the women's category, four South Korean modern pentathletes, including former world champion Seong Seung-min, have already earned their spots in the final on Sunday. They will also participate in the team event, where the top three individual scores from each country will determine the medal standings.
South Korea had a successful outing at the previous Hangzhou Asian Games, capturing two gold medals with Jun triumphing in both the individual and team events.