Pork incentive for Asian Games medallists
Korean Wrestling Federation (KWF) president Kim Ik-heon has announced that wrestlers who win medals at this year's Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya will receive monthly pork gift sets, according to the Korean news agency Yonhap. Gold medallists will receive the gift set for two years, while silver and bronze medallists will receive them for one year—half the duration of the gold-medal reward, as reported by The Indian Express and The New Indian Express.
Kim, who reportedly owns a pork processing plant called Sankjuyakgan headquartered in Sangju, South Korea, made the announcement following an emotional ceremony at the Jincheon National Training Center, where wrestlers and coach An Han-bong struggled to hold back tears as they prepared to depart for Japan.
Sport under pressure
The incentive comes at a difficult time for Korean wrestling. Korea was shut out of the medals at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics—the first time it had failed to reach the podium since 1972—and also failed to secure a medal at the Paris 2024 Games. At the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, Korea managed just two bronze medals, its worst performance in 57 years.
Kim was quoted by Yonhap as saying, "People in the sport have only been worried about their vested interests; instructors have been too casual in their response, and athletes have been a mess mentally." He added, "We cannot afford to just keep saying we will get back on our feet. We all have to look at ourselves in the mirror."
The KWF has set its sights on winning at least one gold, one silver, and six bronze medals at this year's Asian Games, according to Yonhap.
Emotional appeal from coach and athletes
An Han-bong, the 1992 Olympic gold medallist who now coaches the national team, broke down in tears as he urged his athletes to change the script. "We have our backs against the wall," An said at the Jincheon National Training Center. "I hope our athletes will go out and prove that Korean wrestling is not dead."
In response, wrestlers vowed to rise to the challenge. Chung Han-jae, a Greco-Roman wrestler who is the reigning Asian Games bronze medallist and has moved up to 67kg, told Yonhap, "I want to win gold and show how good Korean wrestling is." Chung is returning from a broken right elbow.
Kim Min-seok, who won bronze in the men's 130kg Greco-Roman event at the last Asian Games, was quoted by Yonhap as saying, "I want to win gold and celebrate by wrapping my body in this flag." Kim is dealing with a torn pectoral muscle.
Following the ceremony, the wrestlers unfurled a Taegeukgi—the South Korean national flag—with words of their resolution and goals written on it, after the no-medal performance at the 2024 Olympics. The flag travels with them to all international competitions.