K-pop stars lock horns in sports showdown
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Scenes of "Idol Star Athletics Championships," where stars show off athleticism while fans cheer. / Korea Times file
K-pop stars will do battle in the “Idol Star Athletics Championships” that will kick off in two weeks and air on TV during the Lunar New Year in February.
The 12th championship will be shot in Goyang Gymnasium, Gyeonggi Province, on Jan. 18 and 19 and include sprints, “ssireum,” or Korean traditional wrestling, archery and futsal.
TV network MBC, the host since September 2010, is accepting online applications from fans hoping to watch the games in the stadium.
The event is held twice a year -- on the Korean Thanksgiving, Chuseok, and the Lunar New Year.
From top, Bora, Minho (left), Dongjun and Kaeun / Courtesy of Instagram, MBC
Past championships have shed light on the stars’ athletic ability.
Bora of Sistar showed she can run and do archery by winning the women’s sprint events in the first and second championships and advancing to the women’s final in archery in the 10th. Her performance increased her band’s reputation and, according to Herald Pop, created a saying among K-pop girl singers: “Do it like Bora.”
Kaeun, a former member of girl band Dal Shabet, has won the women’s sprint events at three championships. Dongjun from boy band ZE:A shone in men’s sprint events.
Minho from boy band SHINee was the star of the second championship, winning the men’s high jump, 50-meter swim and 50-meter hurdle.