[Official Announcement] The key figures behind the WBC quarterfinal breakthrough after 17 years will reunite at AG! Ryu Ji-hyun Ho, Senior Coach Kang In-kwon, and six other coaching staff members have been finalized.

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A significant portion of the coaching staff that led Korea to its first WBC quarterfinal appearance in 17 years has joined the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games baseball national team under Head Coach Ryu Ji-hyun (55).

The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) and the Korean Baseball and Softball Association (KBSA) officially announced on the 25th that they have completed the selection of the coaching staff for the baseball national team competing in the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

While Head Coach Ryu Ji-hyun leads the national team, Hanwha QC Coach Kang In-kwon (54) will serve as Senior Coach to assist him. Pitching coach Choi Won-ho (53), currently a commentator for SBS Sports, and defensive coach Lee Dong-wook (52), former full-time national team coach, have been appointed. All three coaches previously served as senior coach, QC coach, and defensive coach respectively during this year's WBC.

For batting and QC coaching duties, KT Wiz 1st Division QC and base running coach Park Kyung-soo (42) has been appointed. Strategy coach Choi Tae-won (56), head coach at Kyung Hee University, will also join the staff. For battery coaching, Ulsan Senior Coach and Battery Coach Choi Ki-moon (53) will contribute. Coach Choi Ki-moon previously served as a national team coach during the 2014 Incheon Asian Games, the 2024 K-Baseball Series, and the WBSC Premier12.

The coaching staff, including Head Coach Ryu Ji-hyun, held their first official meeting at the KBO on the 24th to discuss future schedules related to the tournament and analyze the strengths of major opponent nations.

Meanwhile, the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games national team coaching staff and the 24th athletes announced as part of the national team for the Asian Games on June 11 will report to designated accommodations on September 14. From the 15th to the 17th, they will conduct official training and practice games at Seoul Gocheok Sky Dome.

The national team will depart for Nagoya, Japan on September 18, followed by local adaptation training (location and time TBD) on the 19th and 20th. They will then compete in group stage preliminary matches against Taiwan on the 21st, Hong Kong on the 22nd, and Thailand on the 23rd. Depending on results, they will play two Super Round games on the 25th and 26th, followed by a medal-deciding match on the 27th, before returning home on the 28th.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original