"I don't think it's a big mountain, I'm aiming for gold," says Woo Sang-hyuk as he heads into the finals

Departing for Hangzhou "Trying to stay in final winning form"

'Smile Jumper' Woo Sang-hyuk (27, Yongin City Hall) is headed to the finals as he seeks gold in his third Asian Games appearance.

Woo left Incheon International Airport on Sunday for Hangzhou, China, where the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games will be held.

"I just got back from the Diamond League Finals in Eugene, Oregon, USA," Woo said to reporters before his departure. I still have a little bit of a hangover, but I'm going with a good mindset."

This will be Woo's third appearance at the Asian Games. After finishing 10th (2.20m) at Incheon 2014 as a high school student, Woo jumped 2.28m to take silver at Jakarta-Palembang 2018.

Compared to his previous two competitions, his status has changed: he is now 'world class'.

At the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in 2021, he set a Korean record of 2.35m to finish fourth, the highest finish in Korean track and field history, and then made history last year by winning gold at the World Indoor Championships (2.34m) and the World Association of Athletics Federations Doha Diamond League title (2.33m).

At the World Championships in Budapest in August this year, he finished sixth with a jump of 2.29m, but at the World Athletics Federation Diamond League Final on Sunday, he showed off his form by winning the title with a jump of 2.35m, tying his own outdoor Korean record.

"I think the me of five years ago is different from the me of today, but I had the same desire to win a gold medal then," Woo said, adding, "I want to win the same this time."

If Woo is to fulfill his gold medal dream, he will have to overcome the current world leader Mutaz Essa Barshim (Qatar), who holds the second-best mark (2m43).

A three-time world champion (London 2017, Doha 2019, Eugene 2022) and Tokyo 2020 gold medalist, Barsim has won gold at the Asian Games in Guangzhou 2010 and Incheon 2014. He missed the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang, but will be back at the Asian Games.

Barsim also missed the Diamond League Finals to focus on the Asian Games.

"I don't think Barsim is a big mountain," said Woo. When you set your mind to it, it feels like a really big mountain, so I haven't thought about it that way until now," he said. "It will depend on my condition in the final. I'm as good as I can be right now," he said with confidence.

"I think Varshim was more cautious about playing the Diamond League Final because of jet lag and things like that. I played because I was younger and could handle it."

After returning home from the Diamond League Finals on the 19th, Woo Sang-hyuk trained at the Jincheon Athletes' Village to stay in shape.

"I didn't do anything in particular. "I was very well prepared for the Diamond League Final, and I tried to maintain that," he said, explaining that the key was to get jetlagged quickly.

Woo's confidence was also boosted by winning the Diamond League Final, something he had dreamed of since childhood.

"If you're a track and field athlete, your goal is to play in the Diamond League. However, the top six athletes in the Diamond League made it to the final. It was hard to manage points to qualify, but I made it to the final and won," he said. "I think the win made me feel better and gave me the best energy," he added.

"As a high jumper, you need to feel good to perform well. I'm happy to be able to compete at the Asian Games in a good mood," he smiled.

While training at the Jincheon Athletes' Village, she also watched the first Asian Games event. He also watched the performance of fellow Korean swimmer Hwang Sun-woo (Gangwon Province).

"It was really cool to see him win gold in the 800-meter freestyle relay, breaking the Asian record," says Woo. I hope Hwang Sun-woo will do well in the 200m freestyle today," Woo said, adding, "I'll try to do the same."

Woo Sang-hyuk, who will compete in the preliminaries on October 2 and the finals two days later on October 4, said, "I hope people will watch the preliminaries as they are held during the Chuseok holiday. I will have fun and play without regrets so that I can reach the top spot. Please support us." sportstoto.link