 Archer Park Sung-hyun, top, swimmer Park Tae-hwan, right, and the women’s handball team eye gold medals in Beijing. / Korea Times File |
Ollympiic Counttdown 100 Days to Go
By Kang Seung-wooStaff Reporter
When Jang Mi-ran lifted 172.5 kilograms in the clean and jerk in her final attempt to total 302.5 in the women's over-75 kilogram class at the Athens Olympics in 2004, the then 20-year-old appeared to have won a gold medal.
But a few minutes later, China's Tang Gong-hong pulled off a controversial 182 kilogram boost, which was 7.5 heavier than her previous attempt, to edge Jang by 2.5 in the overall scoring. So the South Korean weightlifter had to watch the Chinese stand on the highest podium, while being satisfied with setting a new Korean record.
Now, four years later, Jang is the three-time reigning world champion and considered a favorite to claim gold at the Beijing Olympics.
And like in Athens, her toughest competition will likely come from a Chinese giant, with 25-year-old Mu Shuangshuang considered the other top lifter in her weight class.
Since the Olympic Games, the two rivals have competed neck and neck in the division. Jang has prevailed three of their four meetings, but all her victories at the world championships were decided by Jang's lighter weight. Her loss came at the Asian Games in Doha, Qatar, in 2006.
They each have a strong chance to finish first in Beijing, considering both are on the rise and have set unofficial world records. Jang lifted 183 kilograms in the clean and jerk at a local contest last week to break Tang's mark of 182, while Mu recently recorded a total of 328, which is 9 kilograms better than the current world record, at a national tryout.
If Jang finishes first, she will become the second South Korean weightlifting gold medallist, following Chun Byung-kwan, who took a gold medal in the men's 56 kilograms at the Barcelona Olympics in Spain in 1992.
Swimming
Park Tae-hwan has raised hopes of bringing South Korea its first swimming gold medal in the history of the Olympic Games.
Earlier this month, the 18-year-old phenom, who had been blamed for sluggish performances after world championship glory, broke two Asian records in the men's 200- and 400-meter freestyles at a local competition.
His 200-meter time of 1 minute, 46.26 seconds is faster than his former record by 0.47 seconds. In addition, it is the second best time in the world behind Michael Phelps of the United States, whose time is 1:45.71.
In the 400 meters, which is his main event, Park swam a time of 3:43.59 to surpass his old record of 3:44.30, which he set on his way to winning a gold medal at the world championships last year in Melbourne, Australia.
Although the time falls short of the world record of 3:40.08 set by retired Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe, it is also the second best in the world this season next to Australian rival Grant Hackett, who raced in 3:43.15 at a tryout last month.
In his quest for the gold medal, Park, who trains at the Korea Training Center at Taeneung, will fly to Guam in May to adjust to the hot climate of China and would like to practice at the Olympic main swimming pool in June, but that is improbable because the Chinese Olympic organization is likely to keep swimmers out of the pool two months prior to the Games.
Archery
The goal of the South Korean archery teams, ranked No. 1 in the world, to sweep all four gold medals at the Olympics could be difficult to achieve because of up and coming rivals.
South Korea captured three golds in each of the previous two Olympics, winning the women's singles and men's and women's team events.
At the Archery World Cup in Croatia earlier this month, South Korea won one gold and three bronze medals in the men's and women's singles.
But the women's squad, which is gunning for a sixth straight gold at the Olympics, lost to Athens runner-up China, which they edged by one point at the Olympics four years ago, while the Korean men were eliminated in the round of 16.
Taekwondo
South Korea has four entries in Beijing in the men's 68 kilogram and over-80kg divisions and the women's 57kg and 67kg classes.
There is quota for each country of two contestants in each division for men and women.
Two-time world champion Hwang Kyung-seon, who also won a bronze medal in Athens, has her sights set on bringing a gold medal to Korea in the women's 67 kilogram class.
Other competitors in the remaining three divisions will be selected at the final tryout to be held on Thursday.
Badminton
South Korean badminton has heightened expectations for gold in Beijing with recent blistering performances.
South Korea's men swept golds at the Asian Badminton Championships in Malaysia, while the women's doubles team also finished first at prestigious competitions.
Park Sung-hwan, who ranks 12th in the world, hopes to become the first Korean to win gold in the men's singles. In addition, Park, known for his power smashing, has a 3-2 record against world No. 1 Lin Dan of China in their fixtures.
The men's doubles team of Jung Jae-sung and Lee Yong-dae, who topped the All England Super Series in March and the Asian event, and the women's duo of Lee Kyung-won and Lee Hyo-jung, who also won in England and in the German Open in February, could contend for gold.
Judo
South Korea will fill its quota with 14 qualifiers in the Olympics, seven apiece for men and women, in a hunt for gold.
It is the first time since the Barcelona Olympics in 1992 for Koreans to participate in all classes.
Athens gold medallist Lee Won-hee is gearing up for the tryout on May 7 against defending world champion Wang Ki-chun in 73 kilograms. Whoever is selected for the division is expected to take the top spot in Beijing.
Jang Sung-ho, who won a silver medal in the men's 100 kilograms in Athens, could contend in Beijing, and the 60-, 66- and 81-kilogram classes are also in contention.
Table Tennis
Ryu Seung-min is cruising toward a repeat in Beijing after topping the Chile Open Sunday.
Finishing first two months before the Olympics, Ryu, who had been struggling since winning a gold medal in Athens, anticipates reviving his career in Beijing.
No. 13-ranked Kim Kyung-ah, who came in third four years ago, pairs with Park Mi-young to compete in the women's doubles event. The duo won gold at the Brazil Open last week.
Former Chinese national player Dang Ye-seo will compete for South Korea in front of former home crowds.
Handball
The South Korean women's handball team eyes its third gold medal at the Olympics following a long and tough qualifying road to Beijing.
Manager Lim Young-chul's squad came back with seven players from the Athens Olympic runner-up team to set its sight on the top honor, which it conceded four years ago to Denmark by the seven-meter throwing after two extra times.
The women's team won two golds in 1988 and 1992 while adding three silvers in 1984, 1996 and 2004.
Other Korean entries that could compete for Olympic medals include Yang Tae-young and Kim Dae-eun in the men's parallel bars, Jung Ji-hyun in the men's Greco-Roman wrestling 60-kilogram class, the men's football team, men's baseball team and women's basketball.
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