City wins 178 medals — 60 gold, 43 silver, 75 bronze
Aerobics and hip-hop claim overall title for fifth straight year
Shooter Ko Eun sets world record in 25m pistol event
The Busan delegation finished first overall among the six major metropolitan cities — Busan, Incheon, Daegu, Daejeon, Gwangju and Ulsan — at the 107th National Sports Festival, which closed Thursday, marking the city's fourth consecutive year atop that ranking.
Held across Jeju Special Self-Governing Province from Saturday to Thursday, the seven-day competition drew a Busan contingent of 1,780 people — 1,176 athletes across 50 sports and 604 officials — who delivered strong results and raised the profile of Busan athletics.
The city placed first in golf, shooting, aerobics and hip-hop, and sailing, and finished in the top ranks in seven additional sports — bodybuilding, track and field (field events), dance sport, baduk and badminton, among others — for a total of 11 top-placing disciplines. Athletes continued to deliver gold-medal performances in finals held on the last day of the tournament, Thursday.
Busan finished sixth overall in the combined standings with 41,855 points and 178 medals — 60 gold, 43 silver and 75 bronze. In the men's university division baseball-softball final, Busan University of Science and Technology defeated Yeungnam University of North Gyeongsang Province to claim gold for the third consecutive year.
In the girls' high school sepak takraw final, Busan Sports High School dominated Incheon Sports High School to take gold, while Busan Facilities Corporation added another gold in the women's open handball final, reinforcing Busan's reputation as a powerhouse in team sports.
In golf, Kim Gyu-bin of Haksan Girls' High School won two gold medals, and the Busan Sports High School rugby team, which advanced to the boys' high school final, fought to the end to earn a hard-won silver.
Ko Eun of Busan City Hall set a world record of 44.0 in the women's open 25m pistol event, and the aerobics and hip-hop program claimed the overall discipline title for the fifth straight year. The tennis professional team, funded entirely by the athletics association's own budget, won its first individual gold medal through Kim Da-hye just two years after the team's founding.
Multiple-event winners also stood out throughout the competition. Yang Ji-ung in men's open weightlifting and Im Jae-han in open aerobics each claimed three gold medals. A host of other multi-event champions emerged as well, including Lee Yu-rim, Lee Jong-min (badminton), Kim Ha-eun (cycling), Hwang Seon-hong (canoe), Woo Ha-ram (swimming), Ji Geun (bowling), Yun Chang-il, Kim Hyun-ji (aerobics), Cheon Hong-jae (shooting) and Im Chae-young (track and field, field events).
Mayor Jeon Jae-soo said the city would "do its utmost to help Busan athletics take another leap forward, building on the precious achievements of this National Sports Festival."
kaf2002@heraldcorp.com
