By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
China and Japan are Asia's two top countries in terms of national power and economic size. But South Korea is likely to trail only China when it comes to the Olympics.
With the Beijing Games proceeding toward their final weekend, South Korea is closing in on a top-10 finish in the medal standings and is expected to regain the title as the No. 2 Asian nation in the Olympics.
As of Wednesday afternoon, South Korea ranked seventh in the medal standings with eight golds, 10 silvers and six bronzes, while Japan is one notch behind with eight golds, six silvers and eight bronzes.
South Korea got off to a dazzling Olympic start by claiming six gold medals in the first five days of the Beijing Games, placing third behind China and the United States.
Since then, however, Korea has added just two more golds, while Japan has consistently earned medals to move up to its current ranking.
During the remaining four days of the Games, South Korean athletes are expected to produce at least two more golds, raising hopes that they could end up with more than Japan, which sees medal possibilities in softball and gymnastics.
South Korea has high expectations for taekwondo, baseball and women's handball in its goals of garnering 10 golds and finishing in the top 10 of the standings.