Nagoya: The main batch of the South Korean delegation to the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games has arrived in the main host city in central Japan, setting their sights on challenging the host country in the medal race set to begin this weekend. The opening ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, and the competition will conclude on October 4.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Korean Sport and Olympic Committee (KSOC) reported that 122 athletes and officials from six sports landed at Chubu Centrair International Airport in Tokoname, approximately 30 kilometers south of Nagoya. These athletes will join their compatriots competing in sports such as football, volleyball, and basketball, which have already commenced in and around Nagoya.
The KSOC has set a target of around 45 gold medals, with South Korea participating in 41 out of the 43 sports. China is anticipated to dominate the medal race once more, leaving South Korea and Japan to contend for second place. At the previous Asian Games three years ago, Japan secured second place with 52 gold medals, surpassing South Korea's tally by 10.
Table tennis player Shin Yu-bin and badminton player Seo Seung-jae led the delegation's march through the Japanese airport upon arrival. They were welcomed by Jung Mi-ae, South Korea's consul general in Nagoya, along with other officials representing South Korean residents in Aichi Prefecture. Lee Sang-hyun, president of the Korea Cycling Federation and chief of the Asiad delegation, expressed gratitude for the warm reception and emphasized the athletes' determination to perform well.
Shin, who was also chosen as a co-flag bearer for the opening ceremony, expressed her honor and pleasure in competing at the Asian Games, pledging to do her best. Later, the South Korean athletes and officials attended the official welcome ceremony hosted by the organizing committee at Nagoya Port's Fuji Plaza.
In a cost-saving measure, Nagoya officials decided against constructing a dedicated athletes' village. Participants are instead accommodated in hotels across Aichi Prefecture, with some staying on the cruise ship Costa Serena and others in container units. South Korea participated in the welcome ceremony alongside delegations from Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Iraq, and Myanmar.