Final South Korean golfers selected to enter Tokyo Olympics

▲ This photo shows South Korean golfer Park In-bee at the 31st Summer Olympic Games at the Olympic Golf Course in Rio de Janeiro on Aug. 19. (Yonhap)

SEOUL, July 7 (Yonhap) -- A total of 60 players for both men and women golf teams have been confirmed to compete in this year's Tokyo Olympics, according to the International Golf Federation on Tuesday (KST).

The qualifications for the players were based on the world rankings dated in June 21 for men and June 28 for women while only two players from one country are eligible to enter the game.

However, up to four players who are from one country and listed within the Top 15 world rankings can participate.

In Korea, players Lim Sung-jae (23) and Kim Si-woo (26) from the men's golf team as well as Ko Jin-young (26), Park In-bee (33), Kim Se-young (28) and Kim Hyo-joo (26) from the women's team have been confirmed to participate in the competition according to the rankings in June.

Among them, players Park In-bee and Kim Se-young will compete for the second consecutive time following the 2016 Summer Olympics held in Rio de Janeiro.

The men's team will compete in 35 countries while the women's team will compete for medals in 36 countries.

Looking at the distribution of players from each continent, Europe has the largest number of players with 53 golfers followed by 30 in Asia, 26 in North and South America, 6 in Oceania, and 5 in Africa.

The countries qualified to enter four players within the top 15 are South Korea and the U.S.. In Korea, four players from the women's team will participate, while in the U.S., four players from both men and women will compete.

Golf was chosen as an official sport at Rio 2016, where English male golfer Justin Rose and South Korean female golfer Park In-bee won gold medals. Rose, however, did not qualify for this year's Tokyo Olympics.

(END)

(C) Yonhap News Agency. All Rights Reserved