'Rio Olympic Gold' Park In-bi Arrives in Tokyo "Second Gold Medal GO~"

Tokyo Olympics Women's Golf Opens on 4th, Kim Se-young, Ko Jin-young, and Kim Hyo-joo 'Dream Team' Ready to Compete

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist] "Feeling good."

2016 Rio Olympic gold medalist Park In-bee (33, KB Financial Group, photo) finally arrived in Tokyo, Japan on the 31st. She is set to embark on the journey at Kasumigaseki Golf Club in Saitama Prefecture, Japan, on the 4th of next month, aiming for a "back-to-back victory" in the Tokyo Olympic women's golf event. Each country can send two players, but South Korea will have four players ranked within the top 15 worldwide. Kim Se-young (28, Mediheal), Ko Jin-young (26), and Kim Hyo-joo (26, Lotte) have joined, completing the "dream team."

Park In-bee defeated Lydia Ko (New Zealand), who finished second at the Rio Olympics, by a remarkable five strokes. It is noteworthy that she created a new history by adding an Olympic gold medal to four different major championship trophies, achieving a "career golden slam." Since 1988, when professional players began participating in the Olympics in large numbers, tennis players like Steffi Graf (Germany), Andre Agassi (USA), and Rafael Nadal (Spain) have set great records, but this is the first in the golf world.

Park In-bee also said, "My physical condition was not very good during the Rio Olympics," and added, "This time, the experience from five years ago will have a great effect," showing her fighting spirit. She commented, "The Olympics, held every four years, feel different from the five majors held annually," and added, "Because the opportunity is rare, it creates a more desperate feeling, and the moment the national anthem plays with the gold medal, it brings an incomparable sense of accomplishment."

It is encouraging that the key to conquering the fierce battleground of Kasumigaseki Golf Club is accuracy rather than power. Kim Se-young finished tied for 25th at the Rio Olympics. She is looking for a chance to avenge, saying, "The circumstances are different from five years ago." Ko Jin-young is making her Olympic debut. She emphasized, "Understanding the course is a priority," and "Adapting to the grass is important." Kim Hyo-joo expressed confidence, saying, "I will do my best to plant the Taegeukgi at the highest place."