Controversy Over Hangzhou AG National Team Confirmation... 'Existing Selected Players' vs 'Selection of the Strongest Players'

Korean Golf Association to Announce National Team for Hangzhou Asian Games Next September
Men's Team Includes Existing Members Im Sung-jae, Kim Si-woo, Jang Yu-bin, Jo Woo-young
Final Decision After Heated Debate, World No.15 Kim Joo-hyung Excluded

The Korea Golf Association has decided to send the previously selected players as national representatives for the Hangzhou Asian Games next September. At that time, the top two players in the world rankings, Im Sung-jae (right) and Kim Si-woo, will participate.

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] The Korea Golf Association (KGA)'s confirmation of the national team for the Hangzhou Asian Games has sparked controversy.

Recently, the KGA held a Performance Improvement Committee meeting and announced, "Im Sung-jae, Kim Si-woo, Jang Yoo-bin, and Cho Woo-young, who were selected last April, will participate in the Hangzhou Asian Games next September." They finalized the position that "since the Asian Games were postponed by one year due to the impact of COVID-19, the existing players should be given the opportunity." On the other hand, although many opinions were raised that new national representatives should be selected because the Asian Games should feature the best players, this was not realized.

The Performance Improvement Committee, chaired by Professor Seol Jeong-deok of Chung-Ang University's Department of Physical Education, decided after various discussions that there was no basis to change the previously selected players and chose to maintain the existing decision. The KGA explained on the 7th, "There were no separate selection regulations due to the postponement of the Asian Games," and "there was much deliberation regarding the selection of players to be sent to the Asian Games." They added, "The opinions of the 13 committee members attending the Performance Improvement Committee were evenly divided," and "after 3 to 4 meetings, it was decided to maintain the previously selected players."

The KGA emphasized, "It is not easy to newly compose the entry list," and "due to the special circumstances of COVID-19, it was concluded that players previously selected should not be disadvantaged." The KGA selected professional players, who were allowed to participate in the Asian Games for the first time, based on world rankings, and amateur players through a selection tournament. Considering that the Asian Games entry deadline was at the end of April, the world rankings as of April 25 were used as the standard. At that time, Im Sung-jae, ranked 19th in the world, and Kim Si-woo, ranked 51st, earned the Taegeuk mark.

World No. 15 Kim Joo-hyung, despite his outstanding skills, was unable to participate in the Hangzhou Asian Games due to the player selection method of the Korea Golf Association.

On the other hand, there is much dissatisfaction with the KGA's national team selection decision because the best players cannot participate. Since the Asian Games will be held about a year later, there is an opinion that new representatives should be selected based on the world rankings for the men's division. In fact, Kim Joo-hyung, who is ranked 15th in the world and is the highest-ranked Korean player, cannot even step onto the Asian Games stage. Currently, based on world rankings, Kim Joo-hyung and Im Sung-jae, ranked 19th, would secure the participation rights.

Kim Si-woo is currently ranked 76th in the world due to poor performance this year. He is the fourth-ranked Korean player after Lee Kyung-hoon, who is ranked 37th. Kim Joo-hyung has been hot this year, achieving the youngest two wins on the PGA Tour. However, due to the Performance Improvement Committee's method of composing the Hangzhou Asian Games players, he has not even been given a chance. Regarding the KGA's decision, complaints such as "The selection criteria are too harsh," "It is unacceptable," and "It is unfair" have been voiced.

If a player wins a gold medal at the Asian Games, they can receive military service exemption. Players are eager to participate in the Asian Games to avoid gaps in their military service. Amateur players have also delayed turning professional. Unlike the men's division, the women's division has not yet finalized player composition. When first selected, all female professional players declined, so amateurs Bang Shin-sil, Kim Min-byeol, and Jung Ji-hyun were chosen as representatives, but all of them have since turned professional. The KGA plans to establish a new selection procedure.