Busan is good

The 107th National Sports Festival Concludes… Busan Ranks First Among Six Metropolitan Cities for Fourth Consecutive Year

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The 107th National Sports Festival, a major celebration of sports in the Republic of Korea, came to a close yesterday (October 22) with a closing ceremony at Jeju Sports Complex, bringing seven days of intense competition to a successful conclusion.

The Busan delegation demonstrated unwavering determination and fighting spirit throughout the competition, earning the distinction of ranking first overall among the nation's six metropolitan cities for the fourth consecutive year.

The festival took place across Jeju Special Self-Governing Province for seven days, from October 16 to 22. A total of 1,780 representatives from Busan, comprising 1,176 athletes and 604 officials, participated in 50 sports. The athletes demonstrated the skills they had honed through dedicated training, further enhancing Busan's standing in Korean sports.

Busan delivered consistently strong performances across a wide range of sports throughout the festival. The delegation demonstrated its competitive strength by achieving top rankings in 11 sports, including golf, shooting, aerobics and hip-hop, and sailing, in which Busan placed first overall, as well as bodybuilding, athletics (field events), dancesport, baduk, and badminton.

Busan's athletes continued to demonstrate exceptional determination in the finals held on October 22, the last day of the festival, delivering outstanding gold medal performances.

Busan finished sixth overall with a total of 41,855 points and 178 medals, comprising 60 gold, 43 silver, and 75 bronze. In the men's university baseball-softball final, Busan Institute of Science and Technology defeated Yeungnam University of Gyeongsangbuk-do to win its third consecutive gold medal, reaffirming its status as a powerhouse in university baseball.

In the girls' high school sepak takraw final, Busan Physical Education High School displayed overwhelming skill against Incheon Physical Education High School to secure the gold medal. In the women's general division handball final, Busan Infrastructure Corporation also claimed victory and added another gold medal, further cementing Busan's reputation as a powerhouse in ball sports.

In golf, Kim Gyu-bin of Haksan Girls' High School contributed to the delegation's success until the very end by winning two gold medals. Meanwhile, Busan Physical Education High School's boys' high school rugby team, having advanced to the final through tremendous effort, fought valiantly to the end and earned a well-deserved silver medal.

Beyond these achievements, the 107th National Sports Festival produced a series of landmark records and remarkable comeback stories that will be remembered in Korean sports history.

Go Eun of Busan Metropolitan City Hall made history in the women's general division shooting competition by setting a new world record of 44.0 in the 25m pistol event, showcasing the strength of Korean shooting to the world.

Busan's aerobics and hip-hop athletes achieved the remarkable feat of ranking first overall in their sport for the fifth consecutive year. Meanwhile, the professional tennis team, operated entirely through the sports association's own budget, produced its first individual gold medalist, Kim Da-hye, just two years after its establishment, demonstrating a successful model for managing a professional sports team.

In addition, Jeon Ye-bin of Namsan High School won an individual tennis gold medal, marking the first such achievement in 34 years since Dongnae Girls' High School won gold in the team tennis event at the 73rd National Sports Festival in 1992. The promising development of young athletes was also evident in Nakdong High School's handball team finishing third for the first time in 13 years and Busan Electronic Technical High School's hockey team securing its first victory on its own merits in 11 years.

Athletes who won multiple gold medals also delivered outstanding performances. Yang Ji-ung in the men's general division weightlifting competition and Im Jae-han in the general division aerobics competition each secured three gold medals. Numerous other athletes also claimed multiple gold medals, including Lee Yu-rim and Lee Jong-min in badminton, Kim Ha-eun in cycling, Hwang Seon-hong in canoeing, Woo Ha-ram in swimming, Ji Geun in bowling, Yoon Chang-il and Kim Hyun-ji in aerobics, Cheon Hong-jae in shooting, and Im Chae-young in athletics (field events).

Mayor Chun Jae-soo said, "I extend my deepest gratitude to all 1,780 members of the Busan delegation who never gave up despite challenging circumstances and demonstrated extraordinary determination until the very end, as well as to all the citizens who quietly provided their dedicated support."

He added, "Building on the valuable achievements of this year's National Sports Festival, we will do our utmost to help Busan's sports community take another leap forward."

The final results of the 107th National Sports Festival are available on the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee's official website at https://meet.sports.or.kr/national/main.do