Korean team launched for Asian Winter Games in China
Korean athletes and officials for the 2025 Asian Winter Games pose during their delegation launch ceremony in Seoul, Friday. Yonhap
Korean athletes competing in the upcoming Asian Winter Games held their delegation launch ceremony in Seoul on Friday, vowing to make the country proud with their performances on ice and snow.
The Chinese city of Harbin will host the ninth edition of the Asian Winter Games from Feb. 7 to 14. It will be the first Winter Asiad since the 2017 event in Sapporo, Japan.
Sixty-four gold medals will be up for grabs in six sports and 11 disciplines, including alpine skiing, curling, figure skating, short track speed skating, snowboarding and hockey.
Korea will send 149 athletes and 74 officials in all 11 events.
This year's Asian Winter Games will serve as a prelude to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
"I'd like to congratulate our athletes on the beginning of your great journey. I am looking forward to seeing all of you reap fruits of your hard work," said Yu In-chon, minister of culture, sports and tourism, at the start of the ceremony. "I also hope you will set a good example for the rest of Asia with your display of good sportsmanship."
Yu also offered the ministry's full support in expanding the base of winter sports in the country and allowing athletes to concentrate on their training.
Choi Hong-hoon, president of the Korea Ski Snowboard Association and the country's chef de mission to Harbin, also called on the athletes to uphold the values of fair play.
"I hope all of you will feel proud of being part of this competition and accomplish your goals while also displaying the spirit of fair play," Choi said. "My staff and I will help ensure that you will compete to the best of your abilities."
In 2017, Korea won its Asian Winter Games record of 16 gold medals and 50 medals in total to finish in second place behind Japan in the medal race.
Among the returning athletes are short tracker Choi Min-jeong, and speed skaters Lee Seung-hoon and Kim Min-sun. (Yonhap)