"After all, we won the gold medal." Noh Si-hwan on criticism of the baseball national team: "Honestly, I don't care" [Toyoashi field report]

*This content was translated by AI.

"I don't pay any attention to such remarks."

Noh Si-hwan (26, Hanwha Eagles), captain of the South Korean baseball national team, stated firmly. This came immediately after the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games baseball final between South Korea and Japan concluded at Toyohashi Stadium in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, on the 27th. Although South Korea defeated Japan 3-1 to claim its fifth consecutive Asian Games gold medal, criticism regarding the team's international competitiveness grew throughout the tournament due to their inconsistent performance. Yet Noh Si-hwan's response to this atmosphere was simply, "I don't care."

In fact, South Korea's path to the summit of baseball at this Asian Games was not smooth. There were numerous instances where they struggled against teams rated a level below them. Immediately in their opening match against Taiwan, they managed only one hit over five innings against amateur league player Lin Yi-wei. They also suffered a decisive 0-5 defeat against Japan, whose roster consisted entirely of players from social baseball teams. The fact that Shinichi Higuchi, who had shut down the South Korean lineup for seven scoreless innings with just four hits allowed, appeared again in the final just two days later was also a humiliating experience for the South Korean national team.

It was only natural that this led to criticism of South Korea's international competitiveness in baseball. Given that these are professional players, many of whom earn high salaries, repeatedly struggling against teams at an amateur level is simply not normal. This was also why fans' anger toward the national baseball team ran so deep.

However, when asked about the critical public opinion, Noh Si-hwan replied, "Honestly, I don't care. I don't pay any attention to such remarks; after all, we won the gold medal." He further stated firmly, "I think the process is completely unnecessary. What matters is winning the gold medal unconditionally, so I don't care about such comments." His explanation was that since they ultimately proved their worth by securing the gold medal, there was no reason to worry about their earlier struggles.

He also shared his emotional reflections on earning the Asian Games gold medal as captain. Noh Si-hwan said, "It feels so good. I remember all the hardships we went through, and it just feels amazing. You have to experience this firsthand to understand; words can't explain it. It's just too good. I told everyone I'd return to Korea with a gold medal around my neck, and that's exactly what happened," he added with a smile.

Although there were moments of crisis during the final, Noh Si-hwan maintained confidence in winning the gold medal throughout the game. He said, "We failed to capitalize on several opportunities, so even when we were leading, it felt like we were being dragged along. Still, I thought that if we could score just one more run, our pitchers would hold them off. Fortunately, we scored an additional run, and at that moment, I was certain we had won." He added, "After Kim Ji-chan was thrown out in a rundown play, things got chaotic. I told the team to 'relax.' I said (Kim) Do-young would handle it, so let's stay calm, and he immediately did exactly that, which improved the atmosphere from then on."

Noh Si-hwan continued, "What made me happiest was that we all became one heart. Regardless of who our opponent was, I believed in the team representing South Korea. Because we united as one team, I think we were able to win the gold medal. That's why I'm so grateful." He also pledged, "Now, as a member of the Hanwha Eagles, I will rejoin the team and do my best until the end of the season."

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.