INCHEON (Yonhap) ― The main squad of the South Korean delegation to the 17th Asian Games arrived in the host city of Incheon on Tuesday with hopes of a fifth consecutive second-place finish at the multisport competition that starts here later this week.

With Park Soon-ho, head of the Korea Sailing Federation, as the chief of the mission, South Korea has its largest-ever Asiad delegation with 1,068 members, including 831 athletes competing in all 36 sporting events at the Sept. 19-Oct. 4 competition.

The home country aims to win more than 90 golds to finish second in the medal standings, following superpower China, which has occupied the top position in every Asiad since 1982.

South Korea has finished runner-up in the past four Asian Games, outshining rival Japan each time. The entire delegation will have the official flag raising ceremony at the athletes’ village on Thursday.

The delegation chief vowed to achieve good results. “We’ve prepared for the Asian Games with a firm goal, and I believe it will bear fruit,” Park said.

N. Korean media carry reports of win

The North Korean media have reported on their men’s soccer team’s victory over China at the Asian Games south of the border.

For its Tuesday edition, the Rodong Shinmun, the main newspaper in Pyongyang, carried a Page 4 story on North Korea’s 3-0 win over China in the men’s Group F match in Incheon, the South Korean host of the 17th Asiad.

The report detailed North Korea’s dominant offense against China. Sim Hyon-jin opened the scoring just nine minutes into the match and So Kyong-jin and Ri Hyok-chol added two second-half goals for an easy victory.

The paper said North Korea played a complete game, with every field player committed to both offense and defense.

The article also described the North Korean players as having “strong determination.”

S. Korean archer, fencer to recite oath

An archer and a fencer from the host South Korea will recite the Athlete’s Oath at the opening ceremony of the Asian Games in Incheon.

Oh Jin-hyek, competing in men’s archery, and Nam Hyun-hee, a female foil fencer, said Tuesday they will have the honor of representing some 13,000 athletes in their pledge of commitment to the spirit of sportsmanship and fair play.

They will be the third South Korean duo to take the oath at a multisport competition staged at home.

At the 1986 Asian Games in Seoul, volleyball player Kim Ho-chul and archer Kim Jin-ho had the honor.