
AI-generated summary
The Hana Financial Championship is a major tournament on the KLPGA Tour, with a total prize money of 1.5 billion won and a prize money of 270 million won. Lee Min-ji was unable to win the championship, finishing runner-up in three overtime rounds last year, 2023, and 2021, while Lee Da-yeon recovered from a back injury caused by a car accident last year and won this year's Aurora World Championship.
Korean Ladies Professional Golf (KLPGA) tour players will compete for the championship against the world's best this week.
At the Hana Financial Championship (total prize money of 1.5 billion won, winner's prize of 270 million won), which will be held for four days from the 17th at The Heaven Country Club West Course (par 72) in Ansan-si, Gyeonggi-do, Lee Min-ji (Australia, world ranking 15th) and Lydia Go (New Zealand, world ranking 12th), who are active in the LPGA Tour, will participate.
Lee Min-ji, sponsored by Hana Financial Group, finished in second place after three overtime matches last year, 2023, and 2021.
Lee Min-ji, who has been in the top ranks every year, including a tie for third place in 2024, but has not been able to win, is attracting attention as to whether she will rise to the top this time.
The player who prevented Lee Min-ji from winning twice in overtime last year and in 2023 was Lee Da-yeon.
Lee Da-yeon, who suffered from back pain due to a car accident last year, shook off her slump by winning the Hana Financial Group Championship last year and taking the top spot at the Aurora World Championship in August this year.
Lee Da-yeon said, “It is meaningful to challenge for my third win in the same competition,” and added, “I want to prepare well for my iron shot, which is my strength, and show a good performance.”
Lydia Ko, who debuted on the LPGA tour as a teenager and entered the Hall of Fame with a total of 23 wins, will challenge for the championship in this tournament hosted by sponsor Hana Financial Group.
Other players vying for the championship are Japanese women's golf powerhouses Aki Iwai (world ranking 23rd) and Iwai Jiji (world ranking 39th), twin sisters.
Jiji Iwai won for the first time at the LPGA Tour Riviera Maya Open in May of last year, and three months later, Aki Iwai won the Standard Portland Classic, making headlines.
Former world No. 1 Yani Zeng (Taiwan) is also visiting Korea for the first time in a long time.
Yani Zeng, who won a total of 15 LPGA Tour wins, including winning the LPGA Tour Hana Bank Championship held in Korea in 2011, has been in a severe slump since 2012 due to injuries and yips.
However, she announced her revival by winning the European Women's Professional Golf (LET) Wistron Ladies Open in October last year.
In particular, Yani Zeng will represent Taiwan in women's golf at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, which will open soon.
It is also fun to predict the possibility of a medal as Yang Yun-seo, the amateur national team member who will compete with Zeng Yani in the Asian Games, will also participate.
The competition between Seo Gyo-rim, who has 4 wins this season, and Kim Min-sol, who has 3 wins, continues.
Seo Kyo-rim is first in prize money (1,381.76 million won) and first in grand prize points (563 points), but Kim Min-sol is following closely behind.
Seo Kyo-rim has good memories of winning the Inca Finance The Heaven Masters held at the same golf course last June.
Seo Gyo-rim said, "I know the characteristics of the course, so I will play steadily rather than overly aggressive strategies," and added, "I am worried because my wrist is not in perfect condition, but there is no major problem in playing."
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Chances are Lee Min-ji will win her first championship after overtime.
Possible · Within days
There is a possibility that Lee Da-yeon will show good performance after injury and join the championship race.
Possible · Within days
There is a possibility that Yani Zeng will perform well in this competition ahead of the Asian Games.
Possible · Within days

The U-21 soccer team, led by coach Kim Eun-joong, will play two consecutive closed-door warm-up matches against the Australian U-21s in Gosford, New South Wales, Australia, on October 3 and 6. The list of 24 players, including 4 overseas players, was announced, and this is the first overseas schedule since coach Kim Eun-joong took office.

Dong-A Otsuka has unveiled a training material to help visually impaired runners and guide runners safely ride together. It was produced as a Korean and English version of the video containing communication methods, movement route confirmation, driving precautions, etc., and can be viewed on the official YouTube channel.

Leonardo Higuez, coach of Bolivian first division side Guavira, is causing a stir after claiming that the team's goalkeeper, Juan Manuel Perel, has received death threats. The blackmailers reportedly threatened to kill the family if the money was not paid or more than three goals were conceded, and both the Guavira players' union and the winning team, Always Ready, are calling for an immediate investigation.

The 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games opening ceremony will be held at Nagoya Paloma Mizuho Stadium, and the host country, Japan, recorded the largest number of athletes with 919 athletes, the official website 'Game Hub' announced. It took first place, beating China and Korea, and as the first Asian refugee team to participate, two people will participate in Taekwondo.

At the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, sport climbing will compete for six gold medals in lead, bouldering, and speed men's and women's individual events due to the abolition of the combined event and the elimination of the speed team event. Korea dispatched a 10-member national team led by Lee Do-hyun and Seo Chae-hyun, and has collected one gold, three silver, and three bronze medals in previous Asian Games.

National soccer team striker Cho Kyu-seong recorded two assists in Midtjylland, leading the team to undefeated in eight consecutive games (5 wins, 3 draws) in the opening game. Midtjylland, which won 4-1 in the home game against Brøndby in the 8th round of the Danish Superliga, maintained second place with 18 points, trailing leader Copenhagen by 3 points.