Park's silver carries crucial meaning

South Korean swimmer Park Tae-hwan poses after winning the silver in the men’s 100-meter freestyle event at the Munhak Park Tae-hwan Aquatics Center in Inchoen, Thursday. / Yonhap

By Baek Byung-yeul, Kwon Ji-youn

South Korean swimming star Park Tae-hwan clinched the silver medal in the men’s 100-meter freestyle event, Thursday, failing again to avenge his failure in previous races at the Asian Games.

But it was his 19th Asiad medal, which also led him to pull into a tie with retired shooter Park Byung-taek for the largest number of medals among Korean athletes at the Asian Games.

“I have won so many medals, as I have participated in the Asiad three times,” Park said after the meet, expressing his satisfaction with the result. “I hope I will win more in the 1,500-meter freestyle and 400-meter medley relay.”

On Thursday, the 2008 Olympic 400-meter freestyle champ touched in at 48.75 seconds, after Ning Zetao of China, who set an Asian record with 47.70 seconds at th Munhak Park Tae-hwan Aquatics Center. Japan’s Shinri Shioura took the bronze.

The 25-year-old Korean had the second-fastest reaction time off the blocks in 0.65 seconds, but at the halfway mark, he was only in fourth place in 23.76 seconds. But he made a big push over the final stretch to go past two swimmers to win his first silver medal at Incheon.

Still, it was a disappointing result for Park, who was long thought to win gold in the three consecutive Asiads. He won six gold medals in both 2006 Doha Games and 2010 Guangzhou Games.

Along with the silver, he has only managed to win four bronzes in the men’s 200-meter, 400-meter freestyle events as well as 4x200-meter and 4x100-meter freestyle relays.

“It would be a lie, if I said I didn’t have any regrets. Tonight, I felt much better than before, and although I failed to reach my season-best, I am happy that I was better than in the preliminary races,” he said.

If Park adds one more medal in the remaining races tonight, regardless of its color, he will replace the current record of the most number of Asiad medals set by Park Byung-taek. Park participated in the Asian Games six times from 1990 to 2010 to win five golds, eight silvers and six bronzes.

“I think tonight’s race will help me do better,” he said. “I think I’m lucky to swim in the lane next to China’s Sun Yang in the 1,500m freestyle event, and also in the relay, I hope I will be an asset to my team and help my teammates win a medal.”

The athlete who won the most medals in Asian Games is China’s legendary shooter Wang Yifu with 25 ― 14 golds, eight silvers and three bronzes ― in his participation from 1982 to 2002.

Yang wins silver

Yang Hak-seon, the nation’s other strong gold contender in gymnastics, also came up short in the men's vault.

Yang won the silver in the final at the Namdong Gymnasium, while his North Korean rival Ri Se-gwang finished fourth, which was a surprise to many who expected to two to battle it out for the top spot on the podium.

Yang, who had sustained a hamstring injury, earned 15.000 on his first attempt, with a 0.10-point penalty for a poor landing. In his second attempt, he scored 15.400 with no penalty to finish second with a combined score of 15.200.

Yang attempted his very own “Yang 1” technique in his first shot but his spin was half a rotation short. He ended up performing a “Yeo 2” instead but slipped during his dismount for a penalty. He then attempted his "Yang 2" technique, worth 6.4 points, but again didn’t rotate enough. He ended up putting on a “Lopez” with an almost perfect dismount.

“I haven’t given up first place since the 2010 Guangzhou Games,” said Yang after the match in tears. “But I’m glad I was able to participate despite my hamstring injury. I tried the Yang 2 in my second attempt, but my body just couldn’t handle it.”

North Korea’s Ri received 14.799 on his first attempt and 15.433 on his second for a final score of 14.799.

Ri attempted two performances both 6.4 in difficulty, but fell face forward on his first attempt for 14.166 points with a 0.30-point penalty. On his second attempt, he scored 15.433. Another South Korean gymnast Kim Hee-hoon placed sixth with 14.033 points.

Hong Kong’s Shek Wai Hung claimed gold with 15.216 and no penalties, while China’s Huang Xi finished third with 14.800 points.

This is Yang’s first medal at the Incheon Asian Games. He finished seventh in the both the ring and floor events.

Fencers add silver, bronze

South Korean women fencers added silver to their medal collection in the epee team event at the Goyang Gymnasium, Thursday, losing to China once again.

Shin A-lam, Choi In-jeong, Choi Eun-sook and Kim Myoung-sun lost 19-43 in the final against China’s Sun Yiwen, Sun Yujie and Xu Anqi. South Korea also lost to China at the 2012 London Olympics.

Meanwhile, the men’s foil team took bronze in the semifinal, Thursday, after being defeated by Japan 45-29. Both teams took home bronze medals, as there are no bronze medal competitions in fencing.