"Japan Should Feel Ashamed Even If It Wins the Gold Medal": Unprecedented 'Bus No-Show' Crisis for South Korean Basketball National Team Ahead of Finals, Japan Also Explodes in Anger [Aichi Nagoya AG]

*This content was translated by AI.

This is a situation so shameful that even South Koreans cannot hold their heads high. Even public opinion in Japan has launched fierce criticism over the incident where the official training bus of the South Korean national team failed to appear ahead of the men's basketball final at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, leading to the complete cancellation of training.

According to reports from 'Nikkan Sports' and other outlets published on Japanese portal Yahoo Japan on the 20th, local netizens who learned about the 'South Korean National Team Bus Non-Arrival' incident that occurred on the day of the Korea-Japan final strongly criticized the organizing committee's negligence and repeated operational incompetence.

One netizen, who received the most sympathy, stated, "The fact that South Korea had to cancel training because the shuttle bus did not arrive on the day of the final is extremely sloppy operation for a host nation and deeply regrettable. Even if it was not intentional interference, it is not strange for the Korean side to perceive it as such. Regardless of the outcome, only distrust will remain, and even if Japan wins, there could be lingering resentment that it was 'because of that incident.' The final must not become a bitter match; the organizing committee should promptly explain the circumstances and announce measures to prevent recurrence."

Voices condemning the overall crisis that has persisted since before the opening ceremony also lined up. "There are countless mistakes by the host side, from dissatisfaction with athlete village accommodations to national anthem malfunctions. The tournament has just begun; the host nation must not further damage its credibility," and "If it lacks the capability to properly host, it should have stepped back from the start. Failing to provide a bus, taking the wrong route, preventing training, or playing the wrong national anthem has crossed the line." Such criticisms poured in.

One netizen even remarked, "Unfortunately, it seems Japan's current level of performance is only at this stage. We can no longer expect the diligent and meticulous operation seen in the past. The frequent simple negligence makes it impossible to find the former image that successfully hosted the tournament as a model for Asia and the world."

A netizen identifying themselves as a Nagoya resident also expressed regret by comparing the current situation with the infrastructure during the previous China Hangzhou Asian Games, stating, "Problems have existed since before the event. Amid various unreasonable situations, it is the athletes who suffer the most significant damage."

This incident occurred on the afternoon of the 20th, just ahead of the tournament final between South Korea and host nation Japan to be held at Aichi International Arena at 7:40 p.m.

The South Korean national team, led by coach Nikolajs Mazuls, is aiming for its fifth gold medal in history and the first since the 2014 Incheon Games after a 12-year gap. If they win, it will be their first time reclaiming the Asian Games title on foreign soil since the 1982 New Delhi Games, an achievement not accomplished in 44 years. Historically, South Korea leads the head-to-head record with 48 wins and 22 losses, and they also secured a decisive victory with a score of 100-83 against Japan in the group stage of this tournament.

The national team was scheduled to take the shuttle bus assigned by the organizing committee at 10 a.m. that morning to move to a nearby gymnasium, warm up lightly, and conduct shooting training. However, the promised bus failed to appear at the training venue without any prior notice or explanation. With the most critical final match imminent, South Korea found itself stranded and ultimately had to cancel the entire morning training schedule.

Previously, the men's football national team experienced a farcical situation where the bus driver drove to an unrelated baseball field instead of the football stadium ahead of the Qatar match, or the bus was omitted on the day of training. At the men's hockey venue, a major broadcasting accident occurred at the diplomatic level, where the North Korean national anthem was played instead of the South Korean national anthem in front of South Korean players standing before the Taegeukgi flag.

The Korean Sports Council plans to take strong action regarding this basketball bus non-arrival incident, including delivering a strong protest letter to the tournament organizing committee and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), and formally requesting a meeting with senior officials.

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*This content was translated by AI.