Fencer Koo Bon-gil (Korea National Sports Promotion Organization) and swimmer Kim Seo-young (Gyeongbuk Provincial Office) shared their emotions and vowed to lead the Korean athletes at the opening ceremony of the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games.

Koo Bon-gil and Kim Seo-young were the flag bearers for the Korean athletes at the opening ceremony of the Hangzhou Asian Games at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Stadium on Wednesday.

The men’s and women’s captains of South Korea, which has sent a record 1,140 athletes to the Games, dressed in neat white tops and bottoms and held the Korean flag together with bright expressions.

“I was very nervous at the Olympics, and I felt a lot of pressure because I was alone, but this time I was able to enjoy the opening ceremony with less pressure because I was with Kim Seo-young,” Koo told Yonhap News.

Koo Bon-gil had the rare experience of being the “face” of South Korea at the Asian Games after serving as the flag bearer for the opening ceremony at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

“I think China is China after all,” he said. The preparations for the opening ceremony, the performances, and the crowd were all overwhelming and spectacular,” he said, adding, “I got goosebumps when I heard the cheers.”

Koo will be looking to win his fourth consecutive Asian Games men’s sabre individual title and become the most decorated South Korean athlete of all time.

“Now that the Asian Games have begun in earnest, I hope that all Korean athletes will perform as well as they have prepared, and I ask the public to show their support for the athletes,” he added.

“I was very nervous and excited because it was my first time as a jockey, but I was so happy and honored that this opportunity came to me,” said Kim Seo-young, recalling her moment of entry, “I was so proud and happy to represent the Republic of Korea.”

Kim, who won gold in the women’s 200-meter individual medley at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Games to save Korean swimming from a “no-medal” situation, will be looking to win her second consecutive Asian Games medal. 파워볼게임