South Korean eventer Kim Hyung-chil died after falling from his horse during the equestrian competition on a slippery course yesterday at the Asian Games, becoming the first athlete to die in competition in the games' history.
Kim, 47, fell from his horse on jump No. 8 on the cross country stage of the three-day eventing competition and was taken to the hospital, Asian Games organizing committee spokesman Ahmed Abdulla al-Khulaifi said. Kim was pronounced dead soon after arrival at the hospital.
"I'm very sorry this tragic accident occurred," said Chung Hyung-sook, South Korea's team leader. "I feel totally responsible and my heart is broken."
PHOTO: AFP
Chung said South Korea was considering withdrawing from the equestrian event out of respect to Kim. All competitors observed a moment of silence yesterday shortly after Kim's death.
Kim, a silver medalist at home in the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, fell from his horse, which tumbled on top of him, causing severe trauma to his head, neck and upper chest, according to Abduluahab al-Museh, of the organizing committee's doping and medical staff. He said efforts to resuscitate and revive Kim failed at the scene.
Kim's horse, a 12-year-old gelding called Bundaberg Black, had no major injuries in the fall.
Christopher Hodson, vice president of the International Equestrian Federation, said a full investigation into the accident was underway.
Yesterday's competition was held in rainy conditions, and concerns were raised that the course was slippery and that that may have contributed to the accident.
Hodson, however, said the course was fit to ride.
"Kim was the 11th rider," he said. "The first 10 riders completed the course successfully."
Course officials decided to suspend the competition immediately after the accident, when a downpour hit as they were repairing the fence where Kim's fall had occurred. Competition resumed later in the day.
Hodson refused to comment further until the investigation is completed.
"I have no doubt at all that this sad accident will get the same and even further examination as is always the case, and that any lessons we can learn from it will be applied," he said.
Organizers said that Kim was the first athlete to die in competition at the Asian Games that were first held in New Delhi in 1951. A volunteer died in a traffic accident here last week.
Kim's death deepened concerns over equestrian safety. Equestrian experimented with breakaway fences to reduce the dangers in the 1990s, when five riders died in as many months in Britain.
MARRED FINAL: As most of Senegalese players walked off the pitch after a controversial decision, some supporters threw objects and attempted to get onto the pitch Senegal on Sunday won the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as Pape Gueye’s extra-time winner sunk hosts Morocco 1-0 after a chaotic final that saw the eventual champions storm off the pitch late in the game. Brahim Diaz could have won the trophy for Morocco with a controversial spot-kick in the 24th minute of added time at the end of normal time as ugly scenes broke out in the stands. However, Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy easily saved the weak attempted “Panenka” chip by the Real Madrid winger, who was clearly distracted by the long delay that followed the penalty award.
James Harden on Friday scored 31 points and came up big in overtime to help the Los Angeles Clippers erase a double-digit deficit on the way to a 121-117 NBA victory over the Toronto Raptors. Harden scored 16 points in the fourth quarter and overtime as the Clippers pushed their wining steak to five games despite the absence of star Kawhi Leonard with a sprained right ankle. The Clippers trailed by 11 entering the fourth quarter, but Harden drilled a pair of free-throws with 1:24 left in regulation to tie it and after misses from both teams, they went to
Tobias Harris on Monday scored 25 points as the Detroit Pistons held off the Boston Celtics to score a 104-103 victory in their top-of-the-table Eastern Conference showdown. Harris was one of four Detroit players to finish in double figures, with Jalen Duren adding 18 points and point guard Cade Cunningham scoring 16 points with 14 assists. The win sees Detroit extend their lead at the top of the Eastern Conference to 31-10, 5.5 games ahead of second-placed Boston, who fell to 26-16 with the defeat. Jaylen Brown led the Celtics scoring with 32 points and almost snatched victory in the
Qatar’s Nasser al-Attiyah on Saturday secured his sixth Dakar Rally car title in Saudi Arabia with Luciano Benavides scraping home by two seconds to claim the motorbike title. “We’ve worked very hard since last year. I might not be showing much emotion yet, but it’s there, deep down. We are so happy to win,” al-Attiyah said at the finish. Al-Attiyah, at the wheel of a Dacia, only had to avoid a final day slip-up to top the podium after bringing his career tally of stage wins to 50 on Friday. The 55-year-old, who took clay pigeon shooting bronze at the
RSS