Korea starts Universide with 2 wins in football

Korea's Kim Na-mi competes in the women's 1-meter springboard diving preliminaries during the Gwangju Universiade at the Nambu University Aquatics Center in Gwangju, Friday. / Yonhap

By Yoon Sung-won

GWANGJU ― The two-week Gwangju Universiade 2015 sporting competition began Thursday with the Koreans clinching two victories in men's and women's football, a day before the opening ceremony.

This is expected to give them good momentum in seeking their goal of finishing the Universiade in third place with at least 25 gold medals.

Both Korean male and female footballers beat their opponents 3-1 in the first rounds of group play.

Korea beat Chinese Taipei in the men's competition at Yeonggwang Sportium Football Field thanks to three goals by forward Jung Won-jin and defender Park Dong-jin.

Jung scored the first goal in the 11th minute by successfully making an attempt from a missed shot by teammate Kim Min-kyu.

Park brought the second goal for his team two minutes later by finishing another missed attempt on a free-kick by Jung. Park scored again on a header in the second half.

Jung Won-jin celebrates after scoring a goal against Chinese Taipei in the men's competition at Yeonggwang Sportium Football Field, Thursday.
/ Yonhap

Taiwanese midfielder Chen Chao-an scored a goal in the 65th minute, but that was not enough.

"I am a kicker and I wanted to show my best performance," Jung said after the match. "But I regret that I could not do my best. I will show what I have prepared for in the next match against Italy."

Korean coach Kim Jae-so also vowed that his team will do better in the next game.

"I cannot give more than 70 points out of 100 for my team today because they failed to play as we have prepared," Kim said. "All coaches aim at winning the top perch. We will thoroughly analyze the Italians, who are a highly competitive team."

Earlier in the day, the Korean women's football team came from behind and won against the Czech Republic at Naju Public Stadium.

The Koreans conceded the opening goal 40 minutes into the game. But in the second half, midfielder Kim Dam-bi hit an equalizer from the penalty spot.

Korean forward Lee Geum-min broke the tie with a decider in the 88th minute, followed by forward Jang Sel-gi's goal a minute later.

"We have encouraged each other even when we were behind. I believe that was the driving force of our victory today," said midfielder Lee Jung-eun, who captains the Korean women's football team.

Meanwhile, Korea lost 3-1 to China in the preliminary pool match of women's volleyball at Suncheon Palma Gymnasium

On Thursday, International University Sports Federation (FISU) President Claude-Louis Gallien stressed the Universiade is not just about competition but also about fostering leaders for the future.

"We believe this event is a good way to make future leaders. We want young students to establish their own age, not only receive from the older generations," the FISU head said during a press conference in Gwangju. "Our legacy here will be that we will together create champions who will be the leaders of tomorrow."

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