Korean shooting enters a ‘post-Jin Jong-oh’ era. With Jong-oh Jin (44-Seoul City Hall), the “emperor” of South Korean shooting for more than two decades, effectively out of the picture, the sport is set to embark on a new era.
The Hangzhou Asian Games will be the first stage.
This was the atmosphere at the Asian Games Shooting Team’s media day held at the Changwon International Shooting Center on Friday. In addition to head coach Hong Seung-pyo, Kim Bomi, Song Jong-ho (IBK, pictured left), Lee Eun-seo (Seosan City Hall, center), and Jung Jeong-jin (Cheongju City Hall, right) participated in the media day and expressed their determination to compete at the Asian Games.
The shooting team will have 35 athletes competing in 33 shooting events at the Asian Games. They are aiming to win three gold medals and finish second overall behind China. “Through the World Championships, we have realized the high level of performance of shooting powerhouses China and India,” said Hong. “We have been training at the Jincheon Athletes’ Village since the end of the Asian Games selection process in April, competing in national and international competitions. We are looking forward to winning three gold medals at the Games.”
Hong’s gold medal favorites are Jung Jeong-jin in the men’s 10-meter running target, Lee Eun-seo in the women’s 50-meter rifle three position and Song Jong-ho in the men’s 25-meter rapid fire pistol.
Song Jong-ho hasn’t competed in a major event since winning gold in the team event at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon. At the 2016 Rio Olympics, he failed to qualify for the Olympic Games after failing to qualify for the trials despite having earned an Olympic quota. At the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta-Palembang, he failed to qualify, and at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in 2021, he was disqualified for low bullet velocity.
This time around, he is more determined than ever. “This is my third Asian Games,” Song said. This time, I want to win gold in the team and individual events to win the double,” he said. After all the hardships he has faced, he is confident that they have only made him stronger. “In shooting, mental strength decides the medal,” he said. As long as I maintain my physical condition and skills and finish the competition, I think the results will follow,” he emphasized.
Jung will be looking for her fourth consecutive Asian Games medal. After winning silver at both the 2010 Guangzhou and 2014 Incheon Asian Games, Jung finally won gold at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games. “I joined a firearms company 메이저사이트 and kept practicing at the Taeheung shooting range and in my room while working,” says Jung, who recalls the most difficult time when the running target was removed as an official event at the 2016 National Games.
Eun-seo Lee, who is also competing in the women’s 10-meter air rifle in addition to the three positions in the 50-meter rifle, is full of confidence. “I’ve failed to qualify for the Olympic and Asian Games so many times that I’ve been beating myself up,” said Lee, who is competing in her first Asian Games. “I hope to win a medal in both events, but I’m more confident in the rifle three position. I think the medal will come from there.”