U.S. golfers Korda sisters qualify for women's golf at 2020 Tokyo Olympics

▲ This photo provided by Yonhap News shows sisters Nelly and Jessica Korda, from left to right (Yonhap)

▲ These photos provided by Yonhap News TV show the womens' golf dream team set to participate in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. (Yonhap)

▲ This photo provided by Yonhap News shows Japanese professional golfer Nasa Hataoka. (Yonhap)

SEOUL, June 29 (Yonhap) -- The Korda sisters of the U.S. Ladies Professional Golf Association(LPGA) Tour have both become qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Nelly Korda, the younger of the Korda sisters, is considered as the number one rival athlete in Korea as she is aiming for a consecutive win for golf at the Olympics.

On the 28th (KST), Korda won the 2021 KPMG Women's PGA Championship, an annual major golf competition, which raised her world ranking from No. 3 to No. 1.

This caused South Korean professional golfers Ko Jin-young and Park In-bee, who originally were first and second place in the world rankings respectively, to fall to second and third place.

The participants set to play in the women's golf tournament in the upcoming Olympics were confirmed according to the updated world rankings, announced on the 29th (KST).

Four South Korean golfers have been chosen to represent Korea: Park In-bee, the gold medalist in the 2016 Summer Olympics held at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Ko Jin-young; Kim Sei-young, who is No. 4 in the world rankings; and Kim Hyo-joo, who is No. 6 in the world rankings.

As for the U.S., Nelly Korda, Korean-American golfer Danielle Kang(No.5), Lexi Thompson(No.9), and Jessica Korda(No.13) will participate in the Olympics. Jessica Korda is the older sister of Nelly Korda, and they are known to share a close bond.

South Korea and the U.S. are the only countries that have four athletes that are all in the top 15 of the world rankings to compete in the summer games. Originally, the general rule is that only two athletes maximum may participate. 

Japan, as the host country in this year's games, will be represented by Nasa Hataoka(No.11) and Mone Inami(No.27). Hinako Shibuno who won the major championship AIG Women's Open back in 2019, is unable to participate as she ranks at No. 31 in the world.

Lydia Ko, a Korean-American athlete will participate on behalf of New Zealand. Ko has revealed to be aiming for a medal this year following her silver medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics. 

Known as Thailand's very own "Pak Se-ri", retired South Korean LPGA legend, Ariya Jutanugarn will be on the Olympic stage as her world ranking is at No. 21. Her sister Moriya Jutanugarn, ranking at No. 35, was eliminated.

Women's golf at the 2020 Summer Olympics will be held at the Kasumigaseki Country Club in Tokyo, Japan from August 4th to the 7th.

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