"I am AG gold medalist Kang I-seul" → How much did you want to win! 'Ace's cheerful SNS'

*This content was translated by AI.

How desperately had she longed for this position at the summit of Asia? Kang I-seul (32, Asan Woori Bank), the "elite shooter" who led the South Korean women’s national basketball team to gold at the 2026 Aichi·Nagoya Asian Games, finally expressed her overwhelming joy over winning the gold medal in a cheerful and dignified statement.

Shortly after returning home on the afternoon of the 27th, Kang I-seul shared her joy with fans via her social networking service (SNS), opening with the witty greeting: "Hello? I am Asian Games gold medalist Kang I-seul." As the first ace of the Moon Jang-e-neun (CEO) team to proudly introduce herself as a "gold medalist," she appeared to have shed the heavy burden she had carried, revealing a sense of relief and satisfaction.

This was also Kang I-seul’s first Asian Games gold medal in her career. She competed with the unified North-South Korean team at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Games, where they lost to China in the final and won silver. At the 2023 Hangzhou Games, she earned a bronze medal. After three attempts at the Asian Games, she finally reached the highest peak.

In fact, this gold medal was a hard-earned achievement, secured by overcoming numerous difficult challenges. South Korea had to compete in the Asian Games schedule immediately after the FIBA (International Basketball Federation) Women’s Basketball World Cup just before the Asian Games. In the semifinals, they defeated China, a formidable opponent anchored by 223cm center Zhang Ziqi, and advanced to the final. In the final, they overcame the host nation Japan, which enjoyed overwhelming home support, and firmly established themselves as the undisputed champions of Asia.

Kang I-seul, the core of the national team’s offense, decided every match with her precise shooting. On the 25th, in the semifinal against China, she played for 28 minutes and 15 seconds, scoring 16 points, grabbing 4 rebounds, and dishing out 2 assists, including two three-pointers, laying the foundation for victory.

Her momentum continued into the final. On the 26th, in the fateful final against Japan, she dominated the court for a remarkable 34 minutes and 13 seconds, exploding with 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 1 assist, including three three-pointers. Under Kang I-seul’s outstanding performance, who perfectly controlled the perimeter and key moments alongside players like Lee So-hee, South Korea secured an emotional gold medal on foreign soil.

Fans are also enthusiastic about the ace’s cheerful remarks after rising to the top following a fierce battle on the court. Fans who viewed the post expressed warm congratulations and applause through comments such as, "How much did you want to win? Starting with 'gold medalist' right away," "We overcame a fierce battle among Korea, China, and Japan, so we can be proud of this for life," and "She fully embodies the qualifications of an ace."

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*This content was translated by AI.