Park Soon-ho, a corporate executive and sports administrator recently named the chief South Korean delegate to this year’s Asian Games at home, on Friday offered a realistic goal for the host country.

“We have finished second in the medals in the past four Asian Games in a row, and our objective is to rank in second place again,” Park said at a press conference held at the National Training Center in Seoul.

“We hope to win more than 90 gold medals.”

Korea has played second fiddle to China in every Asiad since the 1998 competition held in Bangkok. China is certain to flaunt its athletic prowess once again, having topped the medal tables in every Asian Games since 1982.

Every other Asian nation will be fighting for second place.

Japan was second behind China at the 1994 Asian Games in Hiroshima but has since been unable to top South Korea in the medal standings.

Park, 67, said he considered his new appointment “a personal honor” and said he will try to bring success beyond medal tallies.

“I hope this year’s Asian Games will be more dynamic than previous competitions,” Park said.

I hope to turn the competition into a stage for harmony.” (Yonhap)