There are quite a few must-watch Korean athletes at the 28th Universiade 2015 in Gwangju. Some of them are already familiar to sports fans, while others have kept a relatively low-profile. Here are some notable athletes to watch out for.
Son Yon-jae in rhythmic gymnastics
Son Yon-jae, the darling of Korean gymnastics fans, has been the face of Korean women’s rhythmic gymnastics since age 15, when she won bronze in the individual all-around at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games.
Since then, the 20-year-old gymnast has continued to make history in Korean gymnastics. At the 2012 London Olympics, she reached the final round and placed fifth, a milestone that no Korean gymnast has ever reached.
After winning a silver medal at the 2013 World Cup final with the hoop and a bronze in the ribbon event, she secured a gold medal by winning the all-around competition at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games ― becoming the first Korean gymnastics gold medalist at the Asian Games.
Now she aims to win another gold medal on home turf at Universiade Gwangju 2015, where big-name gymnasts will compete for honors in the lead up to the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Nicknamed a “fairy” by her fans, Son snatched two bronze medals in all-around and hoop at the 2015 Tashkent World Cup, reassuring her fans who worried about her recent ankle injury.
Yang Hak-seon in artistic gymnastics
Yang Hak-seon, the most decorated Korean gymnast in Korea, has been an odds-on favorite in the men’s vault since the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games. Yang made a remarkable debut at that event by winning a gold in the vault and helping his team win a bronze.
The 22-year-old gymnast reached the pinnacle of his career at the 2012 London Olympics. Performing his signature triple-twisting front somersault ― a technique officially named “the Yang” ― he became the first Korean to win an Olympics gymnastics gold and earned the nickname “God of the Vault.”
However, he suffered thigh injuries before the 2014 Incheon Asian Games. The reigning champion failed to defend his title, finishing second. On June 29, he surprised his fans by disclosing that he had come down with hamstring injury three weeks ago.
Despite the injury, Yang said he would do his best to reclaim his title in front of the home crowd. The former champion said he would take back the crown with his newly developed skill. Dubbed the “Yang 2,” the new technique adds an extra half rotation to the already difficult “Yang.”
Lee Yong-dae in badminton
Lee Yong-dae was thrown into the limelight when he won a gold medal in mixed doubles badminton at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Since then, he has taken the badminton scene by storm, winning bronze at the 2012 London Olympics, gold at the 2013 Kazan Universiade, silver at the 2014 World Championships and gold at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games.
The 26-year-old is now poised to defend his title at the 2015 Gwangju Universiade. Lee is determined to bring his country a gold medal in men’s doubles along with his longtime teammate Ko Sung-hyun.
The top-ranked badminton player is renowned for his net shot ― an attacking shot that just clears the net and falls precipitously. As the technique can catch opponents’ off guard, experts say Lee’s trademark skill will give the Korean team an edge.
Even though he was suspended for a year for missing doping tests, he is still at the top of his game, winning the Australian Open in the men’s doubles against the Chinese team.
Ki Bo-bae in archery Ki Bo-bae is aiming for the gold in women’s archery at Universiade Gwangju 2015. At the 2013 Kazan Universiade, archery was taken off the list of official sports, but has been reintroduced this year.
The 27-year-old archer made her name by winning two gold medals in individual and team events at the 2012 London Olympics.
She was the 2013 world champion in team and mixed team events, but failed to survive the national tryout for the 2014 Incheon Asian Games. Korea’s most representative female archer is now seeking to regain her honor in Gwangju.
Ki made a comeback to the Korean team in 2015 after placing third in the national competition. She won gold and bronze at the 2015 Shanghai World Cup, the last competition before the Gwangju Universaide.
In Kyo-don, Lee Da-bin in taekwondo In Kyo-don is looking to make a comeback at Universiade Gwangju 2015 after being sidelined at Universiade Kazan 2013 due to illness. He won a gold at Universiade Shenzhen 2011.
He swept taekwondo titles in Korea as a high school student. However, In met a crisis in 2013 when he was diagnosed with cancer of the lymph nodes.
Despite his medical condition, the 23-year-old has managed to return to the national squad after chemotherapy. He finished second at the 2014 Korea Open. He told reporters after the event that he could never have beaten cancer without his dream of competing in taekwondo again.
Lee Da-bin aims to expand her title at Universiade Gwangju 2015 after winning a gold medal at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games and lifting multiple trophies at national competitions.
The 20-year-old was thrown into the limelight during the national tryout for the 2014 Asian Games. She was selected for the national team after beating strong candidates such as Noh Eun-sil, a gold medalist in the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games.
Lee began her career at 14, an older than average age for a taekwondo athlete. But she won at the Asian Games only six years after she took up the sport.
Lee Jeong-eun, Kim Ah-in, Jeong Ju-won in golfKorea’s Lee Jeong-eun, Kim Ah-in and Jeong Ju-won are the favorites to win gold in women’s golf.
Lee, 19, has won multiple trophies at national competitions, including her first title in 2013.
Jeong ranked first in the national tryout for Universiade Gwangju 2015. She also won the 2014 Junior Orange Bowl International Golf Championship ― an event known as the world’s most prestigious junior golf tournament.
Kim, the eldest among the three, is another promising Korean golfer. The 21-year-old has continued to extend his winning titles at amateur competitions and ranked second at the last major competition in the lead-up to the Universiade.
Kim Soo-whan, Cho Gu-ham in judo Korea is hoping for its first gold medal of Universiade Gwangju 2015 in judo, an event in which the nation has traditionally been strong. The Judo competitions start Saturday, one day after the start of the games, with a total of 18 gold medals up for grabs.
Korea is seeking to bag at least five gold medals in judo. It pins hopes on Kim Soo-whan, the 2010 Asiad champion in the men’s over-100kg event, and Cho Gu-ham, the winner of the 2014 Grand Slam Tokyo in the men’s under-100kg
Korea also relies on female players, including Kim Min-jeong in the over-78kg class who finished as the runner-up at the recent Asian championships.
By Yeo Jun-suk (
jasonyeo@heraldcorp.com)
