Korean Women's Golf "Sweeping Gold and Silver Medals at the Tokyo Olympics?"

US Gracenote "Kim Sei-young Gold, Ko Jin-young Silver Expected," Park In-bee Aims for 'Back-to-Back Wins' Following 2016 Rio Olympic Gold

Park In-bee posing with a gold medal around her neck at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics in Brazil.

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] "Gold medal favorite."

South Korean women's golf is predicted to sweep the gold and silver medals at the upcoming Tokyo Olympics in July. On the 20th (Korean time), GraceNote, a U.S. sports data and entertainment service company, projected in their medal forecast by event that Kim Se-young (28, Mediheal) would win gold, and world No. 1 Ko Jin-young (26) was a silver medal candidate. Last week, in the overall medal forecast by country, South Korea was analyzed to rank 10th with 9 gold medals, 10 silver medals, and 6 bronze medals.

Although only two players per country can participate in golf, as of June, South Korean women's golf has four players ranked within the 'Top 15'. Currently, Ko Jin-young is ranked 1st, Park In-bee (33, KB Financial Group) 2nd, Kim Se-young 3rd, and Kim Hyo-joo (26, Lotte) 8th, followed by Park Sung-hyun (28) at 14th. Park In-bee is notably the gold medalist at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. She added a gold medal to her victories in four different major championships, achieving a 'career golden slam.'

Since professional players joined the Olympics in tennis in 1988, athletes such as Steffi Graf (Germany), Andre Agassi (USA), and Rafael Nadal (Spain) have consecutively joined the 'career golden slam club,' but in golf, this is the first time for both men and women combined. Park In-bee is aiming for 'Olympic back-to-back golds,' and it is interesting that she won the LPGA Tour Kia Classic early in March. She said, "The Olympics always provide great motivation," setting her sights on a second consecutive gold.

Earlier, GraceNote also predicted that South Korea would secure three gold medals in men's soccer and archery, and two each in taekwondo and fencing. In archery, Kang Chae-young (25, Hyundai Mobis) is a gold medal candidate in the women's individual event, as well as in the women's team and mixed team events. In taekwondo, Lee Dae-hoon (29, Daejeon City Hall) and Jang Jun (21, Korea National Sport University) are contenders. In fencing, Oh Sang-wook (25, Seongnam City Hall) is drawing attention in the men's sabre individual and team events.