Paralympic athletes return home to heroes' welcome

SEOUL, Sept. 19 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean Paralympic team returned home to a heroes' welcome on Friday after winning 10 gold medals and finishing 13th in the final medal tally of the Beijing Paralympics.

Smiling players using wheelchairs and crutches waved to fans who greeted them at
the Incheon International Airport upon their return from the 13th Paralympic
Games, which ran for 12 days from Sept. 6-17 in Beijing.
"Team Korea," composed of more than 70 players, competed in 13 events including
archery, swimming and weightlifting. The team won 10 gold, eight silver and 13
bronze medals to finish at 13th in the final medal tally.
The country won 11 gold medals in Athens four years ago, finishing 16th.
Cultural Minister Yu In-chon praised the athletes for their effort to compete in
a global sporting event, despite having physical, mental and sensorial
disabilities.
The Paralympics are held every four years after the Olympic Games in the same
host nation.
China won 89 golds to finish first, as it did in the Summer Olympics that ended
on Aug. 24.
brk@yna.co.kr
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