Sprinter Jeon Min-jae wins Korea's first medal at Asian Para Games

Sprinter Jeon Min-jae won Korea's first medal at the fourth-ever Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China on Monday with a silver in the women’s athletics 200-meter T36 contest.

Korean sprinter Jeon Min-jae takes silver in the women's 200-meter T36 contest at the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China on Monday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

Sprinter Jeon Min-jae won Korea's first medal at the fourth-ever Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China on Monday with a silver in the women’s athletics 200-meter T36 contest.

Jeon finished with a time of 31.27 seconds, coming behind China’s Shi Yiting, who finished with 28.17 seconds to win gold and break her own world record. China’s Li Sishuang took bronze with a time of 31.95 seconds.

Athletes competing in the 30s sport classes have impairments that affect muscle coordination which are often associated with cerebral palsy or traumatic brain injury. Jeon was diagnosed with encephalitis at age five, which resulted in cerebral palsy.

Athletes of classes 35 to 38 like Jeon have better control of their torso and legs and compete in a standing position, whereas athletes in classes 31 to 34 compete using wheelchairs.

Jeon, 46, entered the Games as the defending champion in the 200-meter T36 contest, earning a Games record in 2018 with a time of 31.08 seconds. She also took gold at the 2014 Games in Incheon.

She’s also the defending champion in a second event, the 100-meter T36, winning gold in both 2018 and 2014. This year’s final is set for Thursday, where Jeon will look to keep her title.

Korea's Jeon Min-jae takes the podium after winning silver in Hangzhou, China on Monday. [YONHAP]

Jeon also competed in the 200-meter T36 sprint at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics but narrowly missed out on a medal, coming in fourth. She finished eighth in the 100-meter T36 sprint.

The sprinter made her Paralympic debut at the 2008 Games in Beijing, where she finished fourth in the 200-meter T36 sprint. She then went on to take back-to-back silvers in the event in 2012 and in 2016.

Korea sent a national delegation of 345 athletes and officials to this year's Para Asiad, which runs through the week and wraps up on Sunday, and has entries in 21 events.

BY MARY YANG [mary.yang@joongang.co.kr]