Young South Korean athletes on Wednesday set their sights on a top-five finish at an upcoming, international multi-sport event for university students.
About 350 athletes and officials gathered at Olympic Park in Seoul for the team launching ceremony for the 2013 Summer Universiade, set for July 6-17 in Kazan, Russia.
The International University Sports Federation organizes two Universiades each year: one in summer and the other in winter.
In 2013, Trentino, Italy will host the Winter Universiade from Dec. 11 to 21.
Chief delegate Kim Seung-chul (Yonhap News)
This year’s Summer Universiade will bring together 13,500 athletes from 170 countries in 27 sports. According to the Korean Olympic Committee, South Korea will send 309 athletes in 19 events.
Athletes and officials said their goal in Kazan is to be among the top five in the medal standings. The country’s best Summer Universiade showing is a third-place finish, achieved in 2003 in Daegu, South Korea, in 2009 in Belgrade, Serbia, and again in 2011 in Shenzhen, China.
Korea will be represented by some high-profile medalists from the 2012 London Olympics, including Yang Hak-seon, the champion in the men’s vault in artistic gymnastics; Kim Ji-yeon, who won the women’s individual sabre in fencing; Shin A-lam, a member of the silver medal-winning women’s epee fencing team; and Lee Yong-dae, who grabbed the bronze in men’s doubles badminton.
Also taking part will be rhythmic gymnast Son Yeon-jae, one of South Korea’s most popular athletes. Son finished fifth in London, the best performance by a Korean rhythmic gymnast. (Yonhap News)