Jin Jong-oh, a four-time Olympic gold medallist, is regarded as one of the most decorated athletes in South Korea, but there's one thing that this great sports shooter hasn't achieved -- winning an individual gold medal at the Asian Games.
Jin, who also has two silvers from his four Summer Olympic appearances, said on Tuesday his goal for the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games is to grab an individual gold, reports Yonhap news agency.
The 38-year-old has three Asian Games gold medals in his career, but all of them were from team events.
"There's no such thing as an Asian Games jinx for me," Jin said to reporters at Changwon International Shooting Range, where the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup is being held.
"I really want to win an individual gold as fans support me. I'll do my best."
Jin, the only shooter to have won three consecutive Olympic gold medals in a single event (50-meter pistol), has so far secured a Asian Games berth in the 10m air pistol event.
His main event, 50m pistol, will not be played at the August 18-September 2 Asian Games, while he failed to earn a spot in the 10m air pistol mixed team event.
Jin could compete in the mixed team event with the Asian Games organising committee's decision, but for now, his younger teammate, Kim Cheong-yong, has earned a spot.
Jin, who also won three gold at the ISSF World Championships, fractured his ribs last winter while climbing a mountain. The injury is suspected to have affected Jin's performance in recent competitions.
The double gold medallist at the 2012 London Olympics, however, vowed that he will regain his old form to compete at the Asian Games and the ISSF World Championships, which will be held between August 31 and September 15 in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province.
"I want to make an excuse that I couldn't train for about a month due to injury," Jin said with a smile.
"Since we have the Asian Games and the World Championships, I'll try to be fit and recover my form in upcoming competitions, such as the World Cup event in Germany."
--IANS
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