Korea aims for gold medal record at Universiade
By Yoon Sung-won
GWANGJU ― Korea’s hope of winning more gold medals than at any past Universiade is about to come true.
As of 9 p.m. Wednesday, day six of the 12-day sporting event, the host nation had bagged 28 gold medals to hold top place in the medal standings. The country added nine gold, widening the gap with China in second spot with 17 gold.
Korea has been strong in combat sports. It won half of the total 16 gold medals in judo, outperforming Japan where the sport originated. Korea swept five gold in the taekwondo poomsae discipline on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The surprising performances of the Korean athletes have helped the host country achieve its goal of winning more than 25 gold medals as initially planned and set a new record in its Universiade history.
Korea is expected to bag more golds in badminton, shooting, handball and taekwondo. The host may gain extra momentum for its higher target by outperforming other countries in taekwondo in particular, which is a combat sport that originated here.
Expectations are growing that Korea may win as many as 35 gold by the end of the Universiade, once it successfully taps into its home advantage.
“It seems certain that we are performing better than expected as we have won more gold than anticipated from judo and shooting in the early stages of the event,” an official from the Korean delegation said. “Once we add more gold from taekwondo, shooting, badminton and ball games, we will not only be able to win back third-place from Japan, but also reach the second spot.”
Korea’s best Universiade achievement to date was at the 2011 Shenzhen Games in China when it won 28 gold, 21 silver and 30 bronze medals to finish in third-place. At the previous Universiade in Kazan, Russia, two years ago, Korea settled for fourth, following Japan.
Meanwhile, the medal standings may still change dramatically as far more gold medals are still up for grabs.
In the second spot, China won 17 gold, including six each in diving and shooting.
Japan is in third spot with 16 gold medals, including seven in judo and four in swimming. Russia follows in the fourth with 12 gold.