With just 60 days remaining until the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, the Korean national shooting team is taking a confident stride toward their final practical verification stage.
The Korea Shooting Federation announced on the 20th that the national shooting team departed through Incheon International Airport on the 19th for participation in the 2026 International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Hangzhou World Cup and overseas training camp. The competition will be held from today through the 29th at the Fuyang Inhuai Sports Center in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, and will feature all Olympic shooting disciplines including rifle, pistol, and shotgun events.
A total of 43 people, including 13 coaches led by Director General Jang Gal-seok and 30 athletes, embarked on this overseas mission. A second contingent is scheduled to join on the 22nd.
The roster for this competition can truly be called a "dream team." Paris 2024 Olympic gold medalists Han Hyo-jin (Daegu Public Facilities Management Corporation), Oh Ye-jin (IBK Corporate Bank), and Yang Ji-in (Woori Bank), who are leading stars of Korean shooting, made the roster in large numbers. Adding to this lineup are Hong Su-hyun (Gangwon-do Office), who won gold in the men's 10m air pistol at the Munich World Cup in May; Shin Min-gi (Changwon Metropolitan City Office), silver medalist in the men's 10m air rifle at the same competition; Lee Gun-hyuk (Daegu Public Facilities Management Corporation), who set an unofficial world record this year; and Oh Se-hee (Cheongju Health Science University), completing a brilliant roster.
The team's goal goes beyond simple performance. Director Jang Gal-seok stated, "The Asian Games verification is complete, and the Hangzhou World Cup is a stepping stone toward conquest," emphasizing, "We are participating to address the issues that appeared at the Munich World Cup and verify our perfected form." Additionally, the team has multiple objectives including understanding competitor trends and preparing for the November Doha World Championships.
Director Jang expressed his determination, saying, "Over the remaining 60 days, we will bring our competitive performance to its peak to show a perfect performance at the Asian Games." The challenge of Korean shooting to recreate the glory of Paris officially begins on the Hangzhou shooting range.
