DPRK aims at scoring better than last Olympics
11/7/2008 17:30
Athletes of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) expected to
win over 10 medals in Beijing, better than last Olympics, a DPRK Olympic
official told Xinhua.
"Every DPRK athlete expects to win gold medal, thus
doing credit to the country," said Yun Yong Gok, a member of the DPRK Olympic
Committee.
The DPRK will send a delegation of more than 140 to the Beijing
Olympic Games, among them over 90 are athletes and coaches, Yun said, it will
outnumber any DPRK Olympic delegation of the latest games.
The DPRK athletes
will take part in 11 events in the Beijing Olympics, including women's football,
judo, table tennis, weightlifting, wrestling, boxing, shooting, gymnastics,
marathon, archery, diving and synchronized swimming.
Kye Sun Hui, famous
woman judo player, was one of the hottest for crowning in Beijing. From 1996
Atlanta Olympics, she has won many gold medals in international contests.
The
judoka has set the goal of winning Beijing Olympic gold medal from the beginning
of this year.
"I have determined to win the gold medal," the 29-year-old
champion said. "it was much valued than the others."
Cha Kum Chol, winner of
the 2007 World Men's Weightlifting Championships in the 56kg category, also has
the capacity of winning gold medal in Beijing, according to Yun.
DPRK women's
football team is also a serious contender of the Olympic gold. It has just won
the 2008 Asian Women Football Championship.
Vice Premier of the Cabinet Kwak
Pom Gi urged all coaches and players to undergo trainings with a higher aim and
achieve greater successes in matches, in a welcome reception held by the DPRK
government.
"We have only one goal in the Beijing Olympics, that is to win
the championship," said captain Ri Kum Suk, a star player of the team.
The
DPRK government has attached great importance to the Olympics as the DPRK
Olympic Committee has put the Olympics on the first place.
Athletes began
training aimed at Beijing Olympics last December and the preparations have
entered the final stage right now.
The DPRK used to be called dark house in
international sports contests. The rare contender of international arenas often
amazed world.
It is believed the DPRK has the capacity of winning medals on
table tennis, wrestling, boxing, gymnastics and marathon.
The DPRK athletes
won more than 40 gold medals in various international sports contests held
between February to May.
"The DPRK won none gold medal in the last two
Olympics in Sydney and Athens. So the priority for the DPRK was to win gold in
Beijing," said Yun.
Xinhua
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