"AG is not a place for fun," emphasized the cheerful captain, Noh Si-hwan: "Fight aggressively and win unconditionally" [Gocheok Field]

*This content was translated by AI.

He is now "Captain" Noh Si-hwan (26, Hanwha Eagles). Three years ago, he experienced the glory of the Asian Games; this time, he willingly accepted the captain's armband to share that glory with his younger teammates. Though known as a "happy virus," Noh Si-hwan delivered a serious and weighty message to his juniors.

On the 16th, after completing training for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at Gocheok Sky Dome in Guro-gu, Seoul, Noh Si-hwan met with reporters and conveyed his determination to compete in the tournament.

Noh Si-hwan, who won a gold medal at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games three years ago, has since consistently performed as a leading power hitter in the league, becoming a regular member of the national team. Now, leading the Koo Seong-doen (CEO) team composed of players under 25 years old or with four or fewer professional seasons, he guides his juniors as their leader.

Noh Si-hwan, now captain, said, "I had somewhat expected to be chosen as captain since I am the oldest among the position players. When the coach entrusted me with the role, I readily agreed. I have never been a captain before in my baseball career, though I have often been a mood-maker. But being a captain for the national team has turned out to be fun and enjoyable."

Well-known for his lively personality, Noh Si-hwan added, "I naturally enjoy energetic and fun atmospheres. Rather than making things heavy now that I am captain, I hope we can maintain a bright, friendly atmosphere where everyone feels like friends. In fact, I believe this approach is even better for building unity as one team."

However, enjoying the game does not mean taking the weight of the national emblem lightly. At his first meeting with players as captain, Noh Si-hwan delivered a firm message: "While some players frequently join the national team, many are newcomers. I hope no one thinks they came to the national team just to have fun or gain experience. Since this is a tournament carried with heavy responsibility, I want us to play aggressively and win unconditionally as one team. That is why I conveyed that message."

In March, he competed in the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) against world-class players, but this tournament differs significantly in nature. The composition of the national team also shows clear differences.

Noh Si-hwan noted, "The age gap is certainly smaller than before, so the atmosphere seems brighter. Since my juniors are quite young and the age difference between us is minimal, the mood feels livelier and more enjoyable compared to previous tournaments. This makes me even more excited. If our young players catch fire early and set a strong tone, it will be extremely difficult to stop them. Therefore, I believe we must win from the first game to maintain momentum; once we do that, no team will find it easy to defeat the South Korean national team," expressing his confidence.

Perhaps this is also a battle against oneself. Starting with the 2010 Guangzhou tournament, followed by Incheon in 2014, Jakarta-Palembang in 2018, and Hangzhou last time, Korea now aims for its fifth consecutive championship. Both fans and players are focused solely on winning gold; the pressure may feel heavy.

Nevertheless, Noh Si-hwan stated, "I feel no pressure. We have gathered some of the best players in the league, so there is nothing to worry about. Everyone performs well on their own, so I feel no burden; instead, my focus is stronger on the need to win unconditionally."

There are no alternatives. The only thought is to win unconditionally. Noh Si-hwan said, "Players have internalized not pressure but responsibility—the mindset that 'we must win unconditionally.' If we approach every game with just that single goal, I believe there will be no difficult opponent regardless of the team. I hope we prepare firmly and return having won unconditionally."

Confidence is good, but it must not lead to complacency. Three years ago, South Korea lost 0-4 to Taiwan in the group stage, entering the Super Round with one defeat. After defeating Japan and China consecutively, they reached the final in a tough battle but managed only two runs against Taiwan before securing gold thanks to outstanding scoreless relief pitching from their battery.

Recalling that time, Noh Si-hwan emphasized, "It is truly not easy. There are no weak teams. The atmosphere at international tournaments can change unpredictably, so regardless of whether a team is strong or weak, I hope we do not become complacent and give our best in every match. We will face strong teams from the first game; therefore, winning decisively early on is essential to build momentum and carry it through to the Super Round. I want to stress the importance of the opening game to my teammates," he said firmly.

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*This content was translated by AI.