(Asiad) S. Korean pentathletes show progress in adapting to new obstacle discipline
ANJO, Japan, Sept. 20 (Yonhap) -- Winning five medals, including two golds, at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, South Korean modern pentathletes showed they have adapted well to the sport's new obstacle racing discipline.
South Korea earned two gold medals, two silvers and one bronze in the modern pentathlon individual and team events held Saturday and Sunday at Anjo Sports Park in Anjo, just southeast of the main host city of Nagoya, Japan.
With five medals in total, South Korea tied China for the top of the modern pentathlon medal standings. China also won two golds, two silvers and one bronze.
South Korea's Jun Woong-tae (L) performs during the obstacle course racing in the final of the men's modern pentathlon at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at Anjo Sports Park in Anjo, just southeast of the main host city of Nagoya, Japan, on Sept. 20, 2026. (Yonhap)
Seong Seung-min won the women's individual title to become the first South Korean female pentathlete to win the individual event, while the South Korean men's team captured gold for the second straight Asian Games.
The South Korean women's team won silver in the team event, with Jun Woong-tae taking silver and Lee Jong-hyeon bronze in the men's individual event.
At this year's Asian Games, obstacle racing made its debut as part of the modern pentathlon, replacing the equestrian show jumping event, which was featured for the final time at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The change was made as part of the sport's transition to the new format for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Head coach Kim Sung-jin said South Korean coaches and athletes had made constant efforts over the past two years to adapt to the new format and maintain their previous level of performance.
"We have struggled a lot for the past two years since obstacle racing was introduced," Kim told Yonhap News Agency after the men's competition on Sunday. "As all the players did well at the Asian Games, we could finish this big competition with good results."
To help with their adaptation, the Korea Modern Pentathlon Federation provided obstacle racing facilities at local competitions after the international governing body introduced the discipline as part of its reforms for the 2028 Olympic cycle.
It also supported training equipment and shared related videos to expand the training infrastructure, while inviting foreign experts in the obstacle discipline and helping athletes train overseas.
Thanks to such efforts, South Korean pentathletes began to adapt to obstacle racing and produce notable results on the international stage in recent months in the run-up to the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
South Korea's Seong Seung-min (L) and Kim Un-ju perform during the obstacle course racing in the final of the women's modern pentathlon at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at Anjo Sports Park in Anjo, just southeast of the main host city of Nagoya, Japan, on Sept. 20, 2026. (Yonhap)
Seong, the 2024 world champion and bronze medalist in the women's individual event at the Paris Olympics, made multiple podium finishes in World Cup competitions last year.
Seo Chang-wan, who finished fifth in the men's individual event at the Asian Games, earned bronze in the men's individual event at the world championships in August and won gold in the mixed relay with Seong.
Coach Kim said he is already looking ahead to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the first Summer Olympics to feature obstacle racing.
"On our way to the L.A. Olympics, we will improve our capabilities in obstacle racing," he said.
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