Hwaseong City Achieves Historic Fourth Consecutive Overall Victory at the 72nd Gyeonggi Provincial Sports Festival

Dramatic Comeback Victory Over Suwon at the 72nd Gyeonggi Provincial Sports Festival
Paik Incheol Leads Team to Victory with Four Gold Medals and MVP Honors in Swimming

Hwaseong Special City in Gyeonggi Province has achieved an impressive milestone by winning the overall championship at the 72nd Gyeonggi Provincial Sports Festival, marking their fourth consecutive victory at the province’s largest sporting event.

The Hwaseong Special City athletes and officials are taking a group commemorative photo to celebrate securing the overall championship at the 72nd Gyeonggi Province Sports Festival and achieving a four-peat. Provided by Hwaseong City

This year’s festival was held from April 16 to 18 across the Gwangju area in Gyeonggi Province, with 31 cities and counties from the region participating in fierce competition.

The city dispatched a team of 477 athletes to compete in 27 events, including track and field, swimming, and soccer. While Hwaseong started the preliminary rounds in second place overall, the team demonstrated exceptional focus in the main events, ultimately overtaking Suwon by a margin of 205 points to secure the overall championship in a dramatic comeback.

Notably, in the swimming category, Paik Incheol from Hwaseong Special City claimed four gold medals and was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) thanks to his outstanding performance. His achievements are considered a decisive factor in Hwaseong's overall victory.

The Hwaseong Special City athletes and officials are celebrating their overall victory by taking a group commemorative photo on the winners' podium at the 72nd Gyeonggi Provincial Sports Festival. Provided by Hwaseong City

With this, Hwaseong Special City has extended its winning streak to four years since 2023, solidifying its reputation as the undisputed “No. 1 sports city in Gyeonggi Province.” This accomplishment is attributed to consistently strong results across all disciplines, combined with the city's systematic elite sports development program.

Yoon Sungjin, acting Mayor of Hwaseong Special City, stated, “Our four consecutive overall championships are the result of the athletes’ sweat and effort, as well as the enthusiastic support of our citizens. We will continue to expand sports infrastructure and support our athletes with the aim of becoming a leading sports city representing South Korea.”

The Hwaseong Special City team is celebrating their overall victory at the 72nd Gyeonggi Provincial Sports Festival by raising the championship trophy during the awards ceremony. Photo by Hwaseong City

Meanwhile, Hwaseong Special City has recently been recognized as a national model for its balanced policies encompassing both recreational and elite sports, and this year’s festival has once again demonstrated the city’s competitiveness.

At the awards ceremony of the 72nd Gyeonggi-do Sports Festival, a commemorative photo is being taken as the MVP plaque is presented to player Baek Incheol representing Hwaseong Special City. Provided by Hwaseong City

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.