"I really wanted to say this." Baseball gold medalist Head Coach Ryu Ji-hyun adds a message of gratitude [Toyoashi field]

*This content was translated by AI.

"I really wanted to share this story."

Head Coach Ryu Ji-hyun of the South Korean national baseball team said this. It was shortly after the conclusion of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games baseball final match held at Toyohashi Stadium in Aichi Prefecture, Japan on the 27th. On that day, South Korea defeated Japan 3-1 and secured the gold medal. Following the game, when meeting with reporters, Coach Ryu did not simply answer questions but added his own remarks to convey gratitude directly.

The recipients of Head Coach Ryu Ji-hyun's bowed thanks were the 10th clubs currently competing in the KBO League. Even during the Asian Games period, the KBO League continued without any break, and despite fierce competition for standings, the teams cooperated by releasing their players. In fact, each club readily cooperated with player releases even when it involved key team members. This strengthened Lee Neun (CEO)'s roster and directly contributed to the gold medal victory.

Head Coach Ryu Ji-hyun stated, "There was no break in the middle of the season (for the Asian Games). The race for final standings is extremely intense. Nevertheless, when we selected each team's aces, key batters, and core players, they cooperated very well. I want to express my gratitude once again to all 10 clubs for this."

He added, "As you know, there were many difficulties, including issues with the field, laundry, buses, meals, and more. We endured these challenges, but KBO President Kim and General Manager Park helped us. The international team and analysis staff even sacrificed sleep to assist. This naturally contributed greatly to our performance. I really want to thank the KBO as well."

The journey to the summit was not easy. South Korea had smoothly passed the group stage but suffered a humiliating 0-5 defeat against Japan, a team composed of players from amateur clubs, in the super round, damaging their pride. They faced a degrading situation where they had to calculate possible outcomes to advance to the final. Although they eventually defeated Japan 3-1 in the final and claimed the gold medal, the lingering taste remained unsatisfying.

However, Head Coach Ryu Ji-hyun said, "Winning a gold medal at major tournaments like the Asian Games is not easy. I want to praise the team for overcoming mental pressure and securing the gold medal. Especially in any tournament, there is immense pressure to defeat Japan. The players must have experienced significant stress. We achieved a glorious victory at the end, so I am proud."

He also applauded Kwak Bin, Moon Bo-kyung, and Kim Do-young for their performances in the final against Japan. Coach Ryu stated, "I have never used the term 'wild card.' All 24 players are members of the South Korean national team, and I believed that when the team united, good results would follow. What I want to praise is that the leader-level players took the lead with great effort. They guided less experienced players well and provided support both on and off the field. They are also the top players in the KBO League."

Continuing, Head Coach Ryu Ji-hyun said, "Being a head coach for a national team in any sport is not an easy position. I moved forward with immense sense of mission. Sleep is a luxury for a national team coach. Whether it's the World Baseball Classic (WBC) or the Asian Games, the weight of the coaching role remains the same. We did our best over two weeks. It was the same during the WBC; I staked my life on those two weeks. Since I gave everything, I would like to rest a bit after returning."

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*This content was translated by AI.