South Korean boccia player Jeong Ho-won (C) is congratulated by his assistants after winning the gold medal in the men’s individual BC3 event at the Paris Paralympics at South Paris Arena 1 in Paris on Sept. 2, 2024. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
PARIS, Sept. 3 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea has picked up its third gold medal of the Paris Paralympics while collecting four other medals in and around the French capital.
Jeong Ho-won grabbed the gold medal in the men’s individual boccia (BC3) event by beating Daniel Michel of Australia 5-2 at South Paris Arena 1 on Monday.
South Korea has now won at least one boccia gold medal at 10 consecutive Paralympics, dating back to the 1988 event in Seoul.
South Korea is the most successful boccia nation in Paralympic history. The sport joined the competition in 1984, and South Korea has won 11 gold medals.
Jeong has been responsible for four of those gold medals — one each in 2008, 2016, 2021 and now 2024.
Before Jeong, South Korea had won two silver medals and one bronze medal in boccia in Paris, including silver by Jung Sung-joon in the men’s individual (BC1) event earlier Monday.
Boccia is a precision ball game for athletes with cerebral palsy or related neurological conditions. The goal is to throw, kick or use a ramp to put a ball as close to the white “jack” ball as possible.
The BC3 classification is for those with severe locomotor dysfunction in all four extremities. They may use a pointer, a ramp and support from an assistant. The BC1 classification is for players who can throw the ball with their hand or foot.
Choi Jung-man of South Korea holds up his silver medal won in the men’s singles badminton (WH1) event at the Paris Paralympics at Porte de La Chapelle Arena in Paris on Sept. 2, 2024. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
Also on Monday, South Korea earned its fifth medal from shooting, thanks to Kim Jung-nam’s bronze in the mixed 25-meter pistol (SH1) event at the Chateauroux Shooting Centre in Chateauroux, south of Paris.
In his Paralympic debut, Kim scored 24 hits for third place, six back of the gold medalist, Yang Chao of China. Gong Yanxiao of the United States won silver with 28 hits.
In the pistol event, a score of at least 10.2 points counted as a hit. The finalists first took three series of five shots each. Eliminations of the lowest-ranked shooter began with the end of the fourth series.
The SH1 classification is for athletes with upper and/or lower limb impairment.
Through five series, Kim was tied for second place with Yang at 13 hits, one behind Huang Xing of China. Yang then grabbed the lead with four hits in the sixth series, while Kim grabbed the sole possession of second place with three hits.
Kim had three hits apiece over the next two series to settle into third place and finished there after getting two more hits in his ninth series.
Kim Jung-jun of South Korea (L) embraces teammate Yu Soo-young after beating Yu in the bronze medal match of the men’s singles badminton (WH2) event at the Paris Paralympics at Porte de La Chapelle Arena in Paris on Sept. 2, 2024. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
South Korea has won two gold medals, one silver medal and two bronze medals in shooting so far.
In para badminton at Porte de La Chapelle Arena, Choi Jung-man won silver in the men’s singles (WH1) event after falling to Qu Zimo of China 2-0 (21-3, 21-7). Kim Jung-jun defeated teammate Yu Soo-young 2-1 (19-21, 21-19, 24-22) for bronze in the men’s singles (WH2) event.
The WH1 classification is for players with impairment in both lower limbs and trunk function who require a wheelchair. In WH2, players have impairment in one or both lower limbs but have minimal or no impairment in trunk function.
Choi earned his first Paralympic medal in his first appearance at age 45. Kim, 46, picked up his third career medal.
Kim and Choi had lost to Yu and Jeong Jae-gun in the group stage of the men’s doubles (WH1-WH2) last Thursday, but Kim had his moment in the singles this time.
Through Monday, South Korea had three gold medals, seven silver medals and eight bronze medals to rank 14th in the medal table.
The Paris Paralympics will conclude Sunday.
(Yonhap)
