Pride will be on the line in the men's 1,500m semifinals or final at dawn on the 22nd.

Lin Xiaozhun sprinting

Lin Xiaojun of China sprint in the lead during the men's 500m semifinal at the 2023 International Ice Skating Union (ISU) Short Track World Championships at Mokdong Ice Rink in Seoul, South Korea, on March 11.

Hwang Dae-heon (24-Gangwon Do-Cheong) and Lin Xiaojun (27-China-Korean Lim Hyo-jun), who were once South Korea's short track "duo," have qualified in every event they competed in at the first World Cup.

Hwang Dae-heon topped the men's 1,500 meters qualifying heat 7 with a time of 2 minutes, 21.521 seconds at the first ISU World Cup event of the 2023-2024 season in Montreal, Canada, on Monday (Feb. 21).

Lin Xiaojun also qualified for the semifinals in the same event with a time of 2:23.232, second out of seven competitors.

The two are likely to face off in the men's 1,500-meter semifinals or final on Sunday.

Hwang Dae-heon and Lin Xiao-jun had a falling out in 2019.

After a court battle, Lin Xiaozhun was acquitted and her honor was restored, but she left South Korea and naturalized in China.

Lin Xiao-jun returned to China for the 2022-2023 season, while Hwang Dae-heon did not play for the national team that season.

This season, they were selected side-by-side for their respective national teams, marking the first time they have faced each other in four years since 2019.

Both athletes showed that they have not changed in the qualifiers.

Hwang finished second in his heat of the men's 1,000-meter run and teamed up with Kim Gun-woo (Sports Illustrated), Lee Jung-min (Korea Gymnastics University) and Jang Jang-woo (Korea University) in the men's 5,000-meter relay to reach the semifinals.

Lin Xiaojun topped his heat in the men's 500 meters and then sprinted to first place in his heat with his Chinese teammates in the mixed 2,000 meters relay. 19가이드03

Lee Man-soo and the Laos National Baseball Team after taking off his top.

Former SK Wyverns manager Lee Man-soo, a "Lao baseball evangelist," ran in front of the presidential palace with the Lao national baseball team in his underwear.

"I ran in front of the presidential palace in Vientiane with about 40 players and officials from the Lao national baseball team on the 20th local time," Lee Man-soo said on Nov. 21, adding, "I am happy that we were able to fulfill our promise of winning the first Asian Games."

The Lao National Baseball Team earned its historic first Asian Games victory on Sept. 27, beating Singapore 8-7 at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games, which concluded on Sept. 8.

Lee Mansoo, who brought baseball to Laos and participated in the Hangzhou Asian Games as the head of the Lao National Baseball Team's staff, was overwhelmed with emotion.

She also tried to honor the "underwear pledge" she made before the event.

There were challenges.

"In fact, considering the social atmosphere in Laos, it was unthinkable for a foreigner to run topless in front of the presidential palace," Lee confessed.

In response to Lee's confusion, Jane Nae, head coach of the Lao women's national baseball team, said, "The Lao government allowed me to run a lap in front of the Presidential Palace and Patuxay on October 20 with the Lao national baseball team in my underwear. However, the players will have to run in marathon clothes."

Local officials, including the president of the Lao Baseball Association Kamphai, offered to run with the team.

"I ran a lap in front of the presidential palace, shouting happily and joyfully," said Lee Man-soo, "just as I did on May 26, 2007, when (as SK head coach) I performed the 'panty performance' at Incheon Munhak Stadium, which was a pledge to reach a full house." 19가이드03

South Korea's e-sports Street Fighter 5 player Kim Kwan-woo smiles as he gets into a fighting stance before the Street Fighter 5 final at the Hangzhou Asian Games at the Hangzhou Esports Center in Hangzhou, China, on Nov. 28.

South Korea has won its first ever gold medal in esports at the Hangzhou Asian Games. Kim Kwan-woo, 44, is the oldest member of the South Korean esports team, which is comprised of players in their teens and 20s.

Kim defeated Hsiang-Yu Lin (44-TAIWAN) 4-3 in the best-of-seven Street Fighter 5 final at the Hangzhou Asian Games at the Hangzhou Esports Center Main Arena on Monday. Kim Kwan-woo is the first Korean athlete to win gold in an esports event at an Asian Games.

It wasn't an easy victory. Xiang Yulin was an opponent Kim had already beaten once in the quarterfinals of the winner's bracket (2-1 Kim). However, a resurgent Xiang Yulin came back to challenge Kim a second time in the Loser's Bracket Finals. After Kim Kwan-woo won game one, Xiang Yulin, who changed her character from Lucia to Luke, turned the tables by taking games two and three. After the third game, Kim Kwan-woo, who was preparing for the fourth game, nervously stroked his hand repeatedly.

South Korea's national esports Street Fighter 5 player Kim Kwan-woo celebrates with the cheering crowd after winning the Street Fighter 5 final at the Hangzhou Asian Games at the Hangzhou Esports Center in Hangzhou, China, on Nov. 28.

With the series tied at 3-3, the teams headed into the highly anticipated best-of-seven matchup. Kim stuck to the character "Vega" that she had been using since the qualifiers. Xiang Yulin chose Rook, which had a high winning percentage against Kim (3 wins in 4 games in the final).

However, Kim Kwan-woo no longer struggled against the rook. In the first game of the seventh set, Kim pinned Xiang Yulin to the right corner and used his wits to capitalize on his opponent's counterattacks to win in a flash. It was a move that showed he had learned from previous matches how to capitalize on Xiang Yulin's rooks. In the second set, he was able to fend off Xiang Yulin's early attacks, and even when he was cornered, he was able to grab his opponent and pull him back up, giving him enough time to turn the tide of the game.

Street Fighter 5 is one of four sports that South Korea is sending to the Games, including League of Legends (LOL), FC Online, and Battlegrounds Mobile, and Kim Kwan-woo is the oldest member of the Korean squad, which is mostly in their teens and 20s, so it was said that it would be difficult for him to win a medal. However, Kim proved them wrong and won the gold medal. Kim Kwan-woo's victory also erased the disappointment of the Korean eSports team, which had lost bronze to Kwak Jun-hyuk (23-KT) in the FC Online event the day before. 19가이드03

Kwon Se-hyun of South Korea reacts after winning the silver medal in the women's 200m breaststroke final during the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Aquatic Sports Arena on Sept. 28, 2018 in Hangzhou, China.

Korean swimmer Kwon Se-hyun (Anyang City Hall) won a valuable silver medal in the women's breaststroke at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games.

Kwon finished second in the women's 200m breaststroke final in 2:26.31, 2.47 seconds behind Ye Shiwen (CHN - 2:23.84) in the swimming management event at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Aquatic Sports Arena in Hangzhou, China, on Sept. 28.

She took home the silver medal. It has been 13 years since a Korean swimmer has won an Asian Games medal in the women's 200m breaststroke since Jung Darae (gold) at the 2010 Hangzhou Asian Games.

Korean swimmer Kwon Se-hyun (Anyang City Hall) won a valuable silver medal in the women's breaststroke at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games. Kwon finished second in the women's 200m breaststroke final in 2:26.31, 2.47 seconds behind Ye Xiwen (CHN - 2:23.84) in the swimming management event at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Aquatic Sports Arena on Monday.

Kwon was in sixth place in the first 50 meters, but she gradually increased her spurt to move up the order. At the third turn of the 150-meter mark, Kwon made a last-minute spurt to move up to second place and secure the silver medal.

After Ye Shiwen and Kwon, Luna Imai (JPN) took bronze in 2:26.41.

Her fellow finalist, Ko Haru (KOR), finished fifth in 2:26.66, just missing out on a medal.

However, at the tender age of 2008, he reached the final of the Asian Games, showing promise for the future. 19가이드03

National Games State Stadium

Ahead of the start of the 104th National Games on Oct. 13, handball and other preliminary games will be held across Jeollanam-do.

According to the Jeonnam provincial government on Wednesday, the pre-games will begin with a handball match at Muan Sports Park on Sept. 23, followed by bowling matches at Dream Bowling Center and Daehwa Bowling Center in Mokpo City on Sept. 15.

Next month, badminton will be held at Hwasun Hanium Culture and Sports Center on Sept. 9, hockey at Mokpo Hockey Field on Sept. 10 and billiards at Mokpo Maritime University on Sept. 11.

The preliminary games are held before the competition period for sports that are difficult to compete in during the Games, as the majority of athletes participate in events related to qualifying for the Olympic Games, 한국야동 according to the National Sports Competition Regulations.

From May to August, Jeollanam-do conducted a self-inspection of facilities and prepared measures for transportation, medical care, hygiene, accommodation, and amenities at all venues for the pre-games to ensure that there were no problems.

The 104th National Games will be held for seven days from Oct. 13 to 19 in 70 venues in 22 cities and counties in Jeollanam-do, centered on Mokpo.

The 43rd National Para Games will be held for six days from Nov. 3 to 8 with 31 events in 38 venues in 12 cities and counties. 19가이드03