"Burning Bright Again"... Para Athletes Vow Strong Performance at Asian Games

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Leaving behind the lingering echoes of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, it is now time for the national para-athletes to let their sweat and tears shine.

Reporter Pyeon Gwanghyeon met with our national team athletes who attended the commitment ceremony for the Asian Games.

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Jang Minho, who put up a powerful run on his first-ever Asian Games stage amidst gloomy and rainy weather, stood on the track once again under a clear autumn sky.

Overcoming retinitis pigmentosa, a condition causing his vision to gradually narrow, Jang becomes the first South Korean to compete consecutively in both the able-bodied and para Asian Games, vowing an even more passionate race.

[Jang Minho / National Para Track & Field Athlete: I thought that I could possibly become a hope for people with disabilities. I want to run aiming for a new record.]

Wheelchair fencing's Kwon Hyo-kyeong dreams of another "gold-winning thrust," riding the momentum of the "Appengers," who staged a dramatic comeback in Nagoya.

[Kwon Hyo-kyeong / National Wheelchair Fencing Athlete: I want to have fun together with the older team members and win a gold medal at the Asian Games.]

The athletes gather even more strength thinking of their families who have shared their hardships.

Choi Ye-jin, a leading figure in South Korean boccia who captured two gold medals at the Paralympics, is determined to cap off her final journey with gold alongside her mother, who has served as her competition partner but can no longer compete together now that she has passed her 60th birthday.

[Moon Woo-young / Boccia Competition Partner (Athlete Choi Ye-jin's Mother): Instead of looking at her mom's face for 20 years, it might be better for her to team up with a slightly younger, good teacher, so I thought it would be good for me to step back a bit. I will do my best in this Asian Games as a "last game."]

The 214 athletes competing across all 18 events are ready to make the South Korean flag flutter high in the skies of Nagoya once again.

[Republic of Korea, Fighting!]

[Team Korea, Fighting!]

(Photo: Para Fencing Archives)

Reported by Pyeon Gwanghyeon | Video by Yang Doo-won | Video Editing by Ha Seong-won | Design by Kang Yun-jung | Video Source: Para Fencing Archives
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.