2012.5.18 Weekend Picks

KPGA

SK Telecom Open

Pinx Golf Club, Jeju

Thursday to Sunday

The golf event, which is co-sanctioned by the KPGA and One Asia Tour, started yesterday with top golfers including Choi Kyung-ju, also known as K.J. Choi.

Choi, the 2008 champion, is playing in Korea for the first time in seven months. He has been struggling on the PGA Tour, but will look to bounce back in front of home fans.

Kim Bio, who earned his second career KPGA victory last week, and last year’s KPGA MVP Hong Soon-sang will also vie for the prize of 200 million won.

Defending champion Nick Barnes of Australia and compatriot Nick Cullen, who is currently the money leader on the One Asia Tour, will also compete.

ITTF

KRA Korea Open

Samsan World Gymnasium, Incheon

Wednesday to Sunday

Marking its 12th year, the table tennis event, approved by the International Table Tennis Federation, started on Wednesday with 154 players from around the world. The finals of each men’s and women’s event will be held this weekend.

The event is widely considered a tune-up for the London Games and many players have entered this event to push up their ranking points prior to the Olympics.

In fact, the world’s top-five players, all of whom are from China, have featured in the event. This is first time in four years that Chinese aces are playing in the Korea Open.

Host Korea sent 12 players, including Olympic participants Joo Sae-hyuk, Oh Sang-eun and Ryu Seung-min. The women’s event will see world No. 10 Kim Kyung-ah compete.

Fencing

SK Telecom Grand Prix Fencing

SK Handball Stadium, Seoul

Friday to Sunday

This is also considered a tune-up for the upcoming London Olympics as fencers who already earned their pass to the Summer Games will participate.

Hosted by the Korean Fencing Federation, a total of 215 fencers from 25 countries will enter the event.

Italy’s Valentina Vezzali, who is the world’s No. 1 female fencer and three-time Olympic champion in individual foil, is considered a top candidate to win the event.

Local favorite and world No. 3 Nam Hyun-hee, who lost to Vezzali in the 2008 Beijing Olympics by 6-5, will go up against her.

In the men’s foil, world No. 1 Andrea Cassara will also feature, while world No. 4 Choi Byung-chul will play in front of home fans.