Sports minister visits Asian Games athletes at nat'l training center

JINCHEON, South Korea, Aug. 2 (Yonhap) -- Sports Minister Do Jong-whan visited South Korean athletes preparing for the Asian Games at the national training venue Thursday.

Do met with the athletes in volleyball, judo, boxing, taekwondo and karate at the Jincheon National Training Center in Jincheon, about 90 kilometers south of Seoul, and was also briefed on South Korea's preparations for the Aug. 18-Sept. 2 Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia.

Do also spoke with players on the unified Korean women's basketball team, which is made up of nine South Koreans and three North Koreans.

The Koreas will also have joint teams in dragon boat racing, a canoeing discipline, and three events in rowing. The canoeists and rowers began training together at Chungju Tangeum Lake International Rowing Center in Chungju, 150 kilometers south of Seoul, earlier this week, and Do visited them Tuesday.

At Jincheon, Do mingled with athletes in other sports as he had lunch with them in the cafeteria.

"You are the pride of the nation," Do addressed the athletes and coaches. "I hope you will all achieve the desired results, and send a message of peace and harmony at the Asian Games."

South Korea will send 960 athletes and officials for 39 sports to Indonesia.

jeeho@yna.co.kr
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