(Asiad) Last batch of Asiad athletes moves into village
By Oh Seok-min and Kim You Jin
INCHEON, Sept. 18 (Yonhap) -- With the official opening of the Asian Games just a day away, the last 19 countries to arrive completed their official entry into the athletes' village on Thursday, their smiles concealing their determination to accomplish great athletic feats in the South Korean host city of Incheon.
The groups that officially checked in at the athletes' quarters included the two Koreas and China. A total of about 14,000 athletes and officials will stay in Incheon for the 16-day competition set to kick off on Friday.
Though China is expected to once again dominate the medal race, leaving all others in the dust, hope still sprang eternal for some lesser powers in the Asian sports.
"We plan to at least earn some medals," said Nhan Sokvisal, head of the Cambodian team, while participating in the welcoming ceremony. The southeast Asian country is one of 10 nations in search of their first-ever Asiad gold medal.
"Our team has prepared very hard, and of course, we would like to bring back an Asiad gold medal for the first time to Cambodia," he said, noting his country eyes victories in taekwondo, wrestling, tennis and athletics, among other sports.
Athletes and officials from Hong Kong also pledged to pour their hearts into the Games with their largest-ever delegation and better their results from the 2010 Asiad in Guangzhou -- eight gold medals and 40 medals overall.
"We are proud to have 650 athletes from Hong Kong this year, the biggest in our history," said Kwok Chi Leung, the chief of Hong Kong's mission.
Adding that some of the team members have previously taken part in a tournament held at one of the Asiad venues last year, Kwok said the athletes may have "a little edge over the other participating countries."
In contrast to their rival athletes who, albeit in small numbers, took time off from their busy training schedule to enjoy the party-like atmosphere at the welcoming ceremonies -- basking in warm sunshine and autumn breeze -- not a single South Korean athlete attended the event.
"The (South Korean) athletes failed to attend the ceremony due to their scheduled training ahead of the big competition on their home soil," an official of the Asiad organizing committee said. "They are making a final check on what they've been preparing. I believe they will return the people's continued support with good performances."
With a goal to finish second in medals for the fifth straight Asian Games by winning at least 90 golds, South Korea has its largest-ever Asiad delegation with 1,068 members, including 831 athletes competing in all 36 sporting events.
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