DPRK marathoner holds cautious perspective about Beijing Olympics
31/7/2008 17:54
Kim Kum Ok, a young woman marathoner of the Democratic People's Republic
of Korea (DPRK), declined to predicted her result in Beijing, saying "it was not
the time to talk big before the match."
But Bae Gwang Haeng, the vice
chairman of the DPRK Track and Field Association, was optimistic about his
runners, reported today the Choson Sinbo, a newspaper run by ethnic Koreans in
Japan.
"They were confident on the matches," said Bae, adding the runners
were in good shape and the woman marathoners were particularly
light-hearted.
A total of six DPRK marathoners have qualified for the Beijing
Olympics. Kim Kum Ok was pinned high hope to grab a medal in Beijing.
The
22-year-old runner won the title of the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon
2008 in February. "My win is excellent preparation for the Beijing Olympics and
I will try very hard to finish with a medal at the Games," she said.
For
preparing for the Games, DPRK marathoners trained for a month in the country's
mountain area from June.
Xinhua
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