With the start of the Asian Games on their home soil a month away, South Korean athletes vowed Wednesday to put on excellent performances for their people toiling under the impact of the sluggish economy and a major man-made maritime accident more than four months ago.

At their joint press conference held at the National Training Center in Seoul, the nation’s largest training ground for amateur athletes, athletes from 20 sports who took the stage all had one thing on their mind: delivering a message of hope to the people by winning medals in the host city of Incheon.

South Korea is still reeling from the aftermath of the sinking in April of the ferry Sewol, a tragedy that left more than 300 people dead or missing. Oh Jin-hyek, the reigning Olympic champ in the men’s individual archery, spoke for many others when he said he’d like to help the heartbroken people back on their feet.

“We as a nation have been through some difficult times, and I believe performing well (at the Asian Games) will give hope to our people,” said Oh, who will be chasing his first individual gold at an Asiad. “I also think this will be our way of returning all the love and support we’ve received.”

Incheon, a metropolitan city lying just west of Seoul, is the third South Korean host of the Asian Games, after Seoul in 1986 and Busan in 2002. The Asiad will run from Sept. 19 to Oct. 4.

The organizers have said all 45 member states of the Olympic Council of Asia, including North Korea, have registered to compete in the multisport event.

South Korea’s stated objective is to defend its turf and finish in second place in the medal table for the fifth straight Asiad.

While trying to finish second in competitions may not be the most ambitious goal, South Korea is merely being realistic.

China has been the dominant power in Asian Games, having topped the medal table at every competition since 1982. At the previous Asian Games at home in Guangzhou, China swept up 199 gold medals, more than the next six countries in the standings combined.

Factoring in home field advantage, with backing of partisan crowds, and athletes peaking at the right moment, the athletes and officials here alike believe they have more than a decent shot at once again fending off Japan, which has finished third behind South Korea in each of the past four Asian Games.

“We have performed at a world class level at major multisport competitions and established ourselves as an athletic powerhouse,” said Kim Jung-haeng, president of the Korean Olympic Committee. “We have demonstrated our prowess in Asian Games in particular.”

Park Soon-ho, head of the Korea Sailing Federation and the chief of the athletic delegation at the Asian Games, said he believes his athletes will deliver the goods.

“Today, we have a group of athletes as talented as any that had competed before,” Park said. “I am looking forward to the Asian Games and I have full confidence in our team.”

By sports, South Korea will be eyeing 48 gold medals from archery, fencing, bowling, golf, shooting, taekwondo and tennis. It is counting on 27 titles from cycling, equestrian, handball, field hockey, judo, modern pentathlon, rugby, sailing, wrestling and baseball.

The host will seek at least 15 gold medals from relatively weaker sports, including athletics, swimming and gymnastics.

Lee Dae-hoon, a reigning Olympic silver medalist in men’s taekwondo, said there’s added pressure to competing on home soil, but said he will try to make sure his sport can help the rest of the country achieve its objective.

While South Korea is expected to grab multiple titles in taekwondo, Yang Hak-seon will likely be a one-man wrecking crew in the artistic gymnastics. The 2012 Olympic gold medalist and the two-time reigning world champ in the men’s vault said he hopes to prove he is more than a one-trick pony.

Weightlifter Sa Jae-hyouk is another former Olympic champ seeking more glory. He suffered a devastating elbow injury at the 2012 Olympics but came back the following year and has since moved up a weight class. “I am hoping to get some personal redemption at this competition,” Sa said. “I’d also like to restore pride in our sport.”

Shuttler Lee Yong-dae will also be seeking redemption of sort: The former Olympic gold medalist and the No. 1-ranked doubles player, with his partner Yoo Yeon-seong, hasn’t won an Asian Games gold yet.

Lee almost didn’t get a chance to compete in Incheon. He was suspended by the Badminton World Federation in January for failing to follow anti-doping protocol, but was reinstated three months later, as the international governing body held the Badminton Korea Association, not the player, at fault for the administrative mishap. (Yonhap)