'223cm' Stood Firm Against China, Then Japan Too: Korean Women's Basketball Wins 'Touching Gold Medal' [Nagoya On-Site]

*This content was translated by AI.

The South Korean Yeo Ja-nong-gu (CEO) team has claimed the gold medal at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya (Japan) Asian Games. This marks their first gold in women's basketball since the 2014 Incheon edition — a gap of 12 years. It is also a hard-earned achievement, overcoming significant setbacks such as the absence of key players including Park Ji-soo (KB Stars) and Park Ji-hyun (LA Sparks).

Led by head coach Park Soo-ho, South Korea defeated Japan 75-70 in the women's basketball final held on the 26th at Aichi International Arena in Nagoya. According to the FIBA rankings, South Korea is ranked 14th, while Japan holds the 9th position.

South Korea seized control from the opening minutes and built a lead as large as 20 points early on, securing an apparent victory. However, they faced a crisis in the final moments when Japan mounted a fierce comeback. Ultimately, the team maintained their focus until the end, confirmed the championship, and celebrated with a flag ceremony holding the Taegeukgi.

The victory carried great significance as it came after overcoming numerous challenges and unfavorable circumstances.

Doubts had surrounded the team even before the tournament began. Two key players, Park Ji-soo and Park Ji-hyun, were absent due to injury and scheduling conflicts with their respective clubs. Nevertheless, head coach Park Soo-ho proceeded with only 11 players after it was confirmed that Park Ji-soo would not join, without adding any replacements despite the roster shrinking from 12 to 11.

In the group stage, South Korea advanced comfortably as the top seed thanks to superior strength. They defeated Malaysia 106-40 in the first match, followed by victories over Mongolia (88-61) and Taiwan (73-59), finishing first in their group and advancing to the quarterfinals. They then crushed Indonesia 101-59.

The real challenge came in the semifinal against China. The key was how to counter Zhang Ziyi, whose height reached an astonishing 223cm. She demonstrated overwhelming dominance on the court, able to secure rebounds without even jumping properly. However, South Korea defeated China through balanced performances: Lee So-hee led with 23 points (the highest for either team), followed by Lee Hae-ran with 22 points and Kang I-seul with 16 points. This marked the first time in seven years that Korean women's basketball had beaten China.

After overcoming China, South Korea faced Japan, the host nation. Fortunately, both inside and outside shots began falling early for South Korea, allowing them to build a lead. At one point, they extended their advantage to 20 points, securing an apparent victory. With Japan struggling with poor shooting, expectations for a smooth win grew.

However, from the middle of the third quarter onward, South Korea's performance wavered while Japan's momentum surged, shifting the atmosphere in an unsettling way. The gap that had rapidly narrowed eventually shrank to single digits and, by the final moments, down to just two points. With intense support from Japanese home fans filling the arena, it seemed as though the tide was turning in Japan's favor. A heartbreaking comeback scenario loomed, especially with the absence of Park Ji-soo and Park Ji-hyun.

Yet, the Yeo Ja-nong-gu (CEO) team did not lose focus. Kang I-seul calmly converted two free throws earned from opponent fouls, and after a failed Japanese offensive possession, South Korea regained control. Lee Hae-ran made one free throw to extend the lead to five points. Japan's final three-point attempt then fell short, sealing the gold medal for South Korea.

After 12 years of waiting, the Asian Games gold medal was finally won. As the final buzzer sounded, players rushed onto the court in celebration. Some ran around waving the Taegeukgi, while others shed tears upon reaching the podium. After the game, Lee So-hee smiled and said, "I cried so much when the national anthem played. Since I'm not a player who gets much attention from other teams abroad, it seems like many teammates didn't know me well either. That made it even more emotional." Kang I-seul added, "It feels like women's basketball has reached a turning point where we can rise higher. Personally, this is extremely meaningful to me."

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*This content was translated by AI.