Kang Min-soo (middle) of South Korea competes in a men's water polo match at the Chengdu Universiade. (Handout via Xinhua)
South Korean athletes competing at the Chengdu Universiade have fallen in love with the local food.
CHENGDU, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- During the Chengdu Universiade, South Korean athletes not only showcased their skills in the competitions but also deepened their understanding of the host city.
"This is my second visit to Chengdu; the city is very clean, and the food is always good," said Choi Kang-jin, assistant coach of the South Korean men's water polo team.
Choi's daily travels between the Universiade Village and the water polo arena provided him with a glimpse of Chengdu's beautiful environment through his tens of kilometers of commute.
The 63-year-old retired athlete, who frequently visits China for work and tourism, has witnessed the country's transformation over the years and believes that the Chengdu Universiade's service is exceptional.
"China is developing very well, and cities are becoming more and more modern," said the coach.
Cho Sua of South Korea competes in the archery compound women's individual bronze medal match against Zhou Jiayu of China at the 31st FISU Summer World University Games in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 31, 2023. (Xinhua/Deng Hua)
Although the South Korean men's water polo team's performance in the Chengdu Universiade didn't meet expectations, the results didn't dampen the players' enjoyment of the beauty of Chengdu in the Universiade Village and other areas.
"The lamb is delicious, the hot pot (food) is also good; I don't feel it is spicy, the food here is much better than expected," added Kang Min-soo, a player of the South Korean men's water polo team. "I played VR games here, and often go to the gym in the Village," said Kang, who is pursuing his studies at Korea National Sports University and has practiced water polo for eight years.
"I played a lot of traditional Chinese games, celebrated my birthday with my teammates, and received a lot of presents in the Village." The 22-year-old athlete said, "Next, I have to prepare for the Asian Games. Although this is not a popular sport in South Korea, as long as it is the right thing, I want to stick to it." Kang revealed his plans to continue playing water polo after graduation.
South Korean archery athlete Cho Sua, also on her maiden trip to Chengdu, has already claimed three medals, including a gold, and aspires to compete in more international events.
Kang Jin-ho of South Korea reacts during the table tennis men's team round of 16 match against India at the 31st FISU Summer World University Games in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 30, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Bowen)
"The facilities here are very good; the staff are very warm and always ready to greet us; I am very happy to come to Chengdu, the air here is very fresh." Cho has high anticipation of tasting hot pot after the competition.
Lee Chi-joong, who guided his team to the table tennis competition, is looking forward to challenging strong teams like China or Japan during the tournament.
"There are not many university table tennis players in South Korea, but there are also excellent players among them; I found that the stadium facilities here are much better than I imagined, and the transportation is very convenient; I have a very good impression of Chengdu, so I also hope that we can do better this time," the coach concluded. ■
