By Yoon Chul
Staff Reporter
Korea confirmed that they will send the best possible team to the Asian Games no matter what their contenders decide to do.
A technical committee composed by the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) and Korea Baseball Association (KBA) had a meeting and reconfirmed their aim to build the most competitive team to vie for the gold medal in Guangzhou, China.
The reason Korea's decision has been highlighted is because Japan, another baseball powerhouse, has decided to send a team comprised of amateur and university players.
"Japan announced a few days ago that they would exclude Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) players," Kim In-sik, chief of the technical committee, said.
"We failed to be champions in the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar due to our shortcomings. We can't make the same mistake again," Kim, who led Korea to the finals in the second World Baseball Classic (WBC), said.
"No matter how Japan prepares for the Guangzhou Games, we are going to send our best team.
"We expected the deadline for the first rosters of 60 would be at the end of July, but it will be two month earlier. I am not sure why but the Baseball Federation of Asia (BFA) has advanced the schedule."
Korea plans to start analyzing other teams as soon as possible.
"We are going to start with Japan and Taiwan, which are the strongest contenders. I think we will have a chance to assess them in late April, because they will select their squads at that time," Kim said.
The gold medal at the Asian Games is very important to Korean athletes. If they achieve it, they will be exempted from military service.
While manager of last season's champions, Cho Bum-hyun of the Kia Tigers, controls the national team, Korean major league hitter Choo Shin-soo of the Cleveland Indians will also be selected. The exemption from military service could have a large impact on Choo's future. He had a good season last year and became a key player for the Indians.