Soft Tennis to Be Excluded From 2010 Asian Games

Soft tennis was always a medal-winning event for Korea.

Since soft tennis was first selected as an official event in the 1994 Hiroshima Games, Korea won 14 gold medals in four competitions. At Busan in 2002, all seven medals were won by Korea.

However, Korea’s soft tennis team may not even be able to compete in the 2010 Guangzhou Games in China.

It was revealed recently that the Guangzhou Asian Games Committee has decided to exclude soft tennis at the 2010 Games. Dragon boat racing and women’s wrestling events will take the place of soft tennis and roller skating. China is not a strong soft tennis team, while Taiwan, which has uncomfortable relations with China, is known for its soft tennis. This is thought to be the reason for this decision.

Soft tennis instructors and athletes who have pursued this unpopular sport solely for Asian Games medals and the pensions connected to them, were shocked by this turn of events. An older player, who already has two Asian Games gold medals, showed concern, saying, “This is very bad. What are the younger players supposed to do?”

Some parties are criticizing a lack of diplomatic effort, saying, “Movements to exclude soft tennis from the Asian Games have existed for some time. The association’s lax attitude caused this outcome.”

Director Kim Min-soo of the Korea Soft Tennis Association said, “For now, it is true that soft tennis has been excluded. However, there is still time until the final decision, and we will take all possible steps to ensure that soft tennis is included as an official event.”

Interest is rising regarding International Soft Tennis Federation President Park Sang-ha’s expected visit to China regarding this matter.

kjs0123@donga.com