Seongnam Mayor Shin Sang-jin expressed his hopes on September 11 regarding the upcoming Asian Games, stating, "I hope the sweat and effort put in so far will lead to good results on the field."
On that morning, Mayor Shin held a meeting with athletes representing Seongnam City Hall in the first conference room of the city hall, encouraging them for their hard work and wishing them success.
Ten athletes from Seongnam City Hall will compete as national representatives in the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, which will kick off in Japan on September 19.
The athletes include boxers and members of the hockey team: Park Cheol-eon, Son Da-in, Bae Seong-min, Kim Jae-hyun, Kim Yong-bok, Kim Gyu-beom, Lee Hae-seung, Kim Jae-han, and Kim Jae-ho, totaling ten.
This event is expected to showcase the competitive spirit of Seongnam City Hall's sports team on the international stage while also boosting local interest and pride in sports among citizens.
The boxing team will compete in the women's under 65 kg category, aiming for the top spot in Asia.
The competition schedule for the boxers includes the round of 16 starting on September 24, followed by the quarterfinals on September 27, semifinals on September 29, and the finals on October 2.
As emphasized by Mayor Shin, the primary goal is to perform to the best of their abilities without injuries.
Citizens of Seongnam are also looking forward to the athletes' performances, hoping for medal wins and encouraging them to give their all in each match.
The nine members of the hockey team will also represent the national team on the international stage.
The hockey team will begin their group stage matches against Bangladesh on September 18, followed by games against Indonesia on September 22, India on September 24, Sri Lanka on September 26, and Japan on September 28.
The semifinals are scheduled for October 1, with the finals on October 3.
As Seongnam City Hall athletes play a key role in the national team, the competitiveness of Seongnam's sports department is also expected to gain attention.
Local citizens are increasingly enthusiastic about the athletes.
They expressed pride in the Seongnam City Hall athletes representing South Korea, stating, "It’s a source of pride that Seongnam City Hall athletes represent our country. While results are important, we hope they perform their best without injuries. All citizens of Seongnam will support them wholeheartedly."
In particular, citizens hope that the athletes, who have trained locally, will compete against world-class athletes as national representatives, further elevating the status of local sports and the role of Seongnam City Hall's sports department.
Meanwhile, Mayor Shin Sang-jin stated, "Above all, I hope they can showcase their skills without injuries and return safely." He added, "As the athletes compete under the name of Seongnam City Hall on the international stage, I will support them vigorously alongside the citizens."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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