'Wait, why a triangle?' Baseball national team's new ceremony carries the meaning of the Chinese character for 'gold' (), not a mountain [Aichi Nagoya AG]

*This content was translated by AI.

After getting a hit and reaching base, the batter brings both hands together to form a sharp triangle. At first glance, this unfamiliar gesture resembles a mountain (), sparking curiosity among baseball fans watching on broadcast: "What exactly is this ceremony?" The truth was that it symbolized their burning desire for a gold medal through the Chinese character '금' (gold).

Led by manager Ryu Ji-hyun, the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games baseball national team secured a decisive 5-0 victory in their Group B opener against Taiwan on the 21st at Okazaki Stadium in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. The win was powered by starter Kwak Bin's six innings of scoreless, no-hit pitching and an explosive offense that erupted in the later innings. By defeating a formidable opponent like Taiwan in their first match, the team took a powerful step toward achieving a fifth consecutive championship.

Just as impressive as their flawless performance was the national team's 'new ceremony.' Every time a player reached base, they performed the distinctive triangular gesture without exception, enough to pique fans' curiosity. Players drew triangles above their heads after every hit. Fans speculated, "Are they drawing a mountain?"

In fact, this ceremony remained shrouded in secrecy until just before departure. On the 18th, just before leaving for Nagoya, Japan—the tournament's host city—captain Noh Si-hwan (26) met reporters at Incheon International Airport. When asked about the team's new ceremony, he smiled and said, "Actually, we were still discussing it late last night (the 17th) while having dinner together. Honestly, nothing has been finalized yet." He added, "You'll see it when you watch our first game in Japan," injecting anticipation among fans.

The full story behind the ceremony was revealed the following day, on the morning of the 22nd, through an interview published on the official KBO (Korea Baseball Organization) channel. The mastermind behind the idea was none other than Noh Si-hwan.

In the interview, Yoon Dong-hee explained the backstory: "You might not have known when you saw it from the outside, but this idea came from our senior player Si-hwan." Kim Ju-won also shared, "Until just before the game, we had no set ceremony and were all wondering, 'What should we do?' Then Si-hwan suggested, 'Let's express the Chinese character for gold () in a medal,' so we quickly put it together and went into action," he said with a laugh.

Various opinions were exchanged within the national team. Ideas such as Kim Do-young's signature gesture or using the English letter 'K' were considered, but the captain's intuitive proposal won over the squad. Yoon Dong-hee explained, "There is no hidden meaning beyond that. We created the character '금' (gold) with one clear purpose: 'Let's win a gold medal.' Because the meaning was so powerful, the entire team immediately agreed and moved forward unanimously."

Noh Si-hwan's instinct as a 'ceremony maker' is not new this time. During the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) held in March, he also created the 'airplane ceremony,' which conveyed the message of flying to Miami, USA on a chartered flight, sparking widespread enthusiasm. In this tournament, he has once again channeled the team's deep desire for unity and victory into the '금 ceremony.'

The national team's 'golden ceremony' debuted under the best possible atmosphere following their opening-game victory and is expected to continue throughout the tournament. Yoon Dong-hee remarked, "Since it was our first game, fans naturally wouldn't have known about it yet," but added, "Given that this energetic ceremony brought us a joyful win right from the start, we plan to carry it through until we claim the championship." He expressed his firm determination to win gold.

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*This content was translated by AI.