Incheon: Japanese swimming star Hagino Kosuke and Malaysia’s women’s world number one in squash Nicol David are among the eight nominees for the 2014 Incheon Asian Games Samsung MVP Award.
The names were officially released on Tuesday and Kosuke and David are among the front-runners for the top prize. The other six nominees are South Korean fencer Nam Hyun-hee, Chinese gymnast Yao Jinna, Thai sepak takraw player Peachan Suriyan, Chinese shooter Cao Yifei, South Korea’s judoka Kim Jae-bum and North Korean world record breaking weightlifter Kim Un-guk.
As per the formalities of the award, accredited media will now be able to cast their votes and choose a worthy candidate who embodies the spirit behind the Asian Games. The final decision, however, will be made by the steering committee of the award with the MVP’s name being announced at the closing ceremony on October 4.
Kosuke won seven swimming medals in Incheon, of which four were gold and one silver. He was champion in the men’s 200m freestyle, 400m individual medley, 4x200m relay and the 200m Individual Medley, where he set a new Asian record.
Nicol too staked her claim to the MVP award by virtue of her two gold medals this time, in the team and singles. This is the third successive Asian Games that the Malaysian has been winning both gold medals following similar successes in 2010 Guangzhou and 2006 Doha.
Football fever
The announcement on Tuesday of South Korea’s senior national football team generated a much bigger buzz in the media than even the ongoing Asian Games in Incheon.
Former German international Uli Stielike, 59 was named national team coach at the beginning of September with the task of leading the side through the 2018 Fifa World Cup in Russia. Stielike, who took the place of Hong Myong-bo, who resigned after South Korea’s dismal two losses and a draw in Brazil 2014.
Local media including television channels KBS, MBC and SBS had the naming of the team as headline news, while Tuesday’s dailies like the Joongang Daily, The Korea Times and even the official Asian Games newspaper The Korea Herald had the football team news splashed all over.
Signing off
Meanwhile, the South Korean government is considering setting up regulatory standards for tattooists. The art of having tattoos inscribed is so big in South Korea that the country even has an official Tattoo Artist Association (TAA) registered under the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Only tattooists with medical licences are allowed to practice.
Doctors in South Korea have been fronting a campaign that tattooists are putting public health at risk. On their part, the tattooists have responded favourably by saying they are willing to undergo proper training before taking up their art, according to Choi Jeong-won, Director, TAA.
