First 'minimum gold' in 44 years: South Korea finishes 3rd as Asian Games close → Next stage is Doha, Qatar, in November 2030 [Aichi-Nagoya AG]

*This content was translated by AI.

The '2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games,' a comprehensive sports event for Asia, concluded its 16-day competition with a closing ceremony held at the Mizuho Park Athletics Stadium in Nagoya, Japan, on the afternoon of the 4th. South Korea maintained its third place in the overall standings but left behind deep regret after collecting the fewest gold medals in 44 years. The next Asian Games will be held in Doha, Qatar, in November 2030, four years from now.

The South Korean delegation secured third place overall by winning 39 gold, 43 silver, and 68 bronze medals, trailing China (169 gold, 89 silver, 83 bronze) and Japan (83 gold, 95 silver, 91 bronze).

In fact, while the ranking was maintained, the content was painful. Not only did it fall short of the results from the previous 2022 Hangzhou Games (42 gold medals), but it also marked the first time in 44 years since the 1982 New Delhi Games (28 gold medals) that South Korea collected fewer than 40 gold medals. On the other hand, Japan, which hosted the games on home soil, set a new all-time high record and further widened the gap with South Korea.

However, there were also many shining achievements. Led by men's football, which achieved a four-peat at the Asian Games, South Korea announced gold medal victories in major team sports such as baseball, basketball, and women's handball, upholding the pride of Asia's dominant power. In individual events, fencing (4 gold medals), led by 'flagship' Oh Sang-uk, along with yachting, canoeing, and e-sports (2 gold medals each) performed well, and valuable 'surprise gold medals' were harvested in new events such as techball, which was introduced for the first time at this tournament, as well as sport climbing and skateboarding.

However, the underperformance of key events held back the team. Traditional 'medal powerhouse' archery managed only 3 gold medals, and major medal sources such as taekwondo, swimming, and table tennis also struggled, failing to meet initial targets. It is interpreted that South Korea could not escape the trend of upward leveling in Asian national sports.

The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Organizing Committee's lack of operational proficiency also left a bitter aftertaste. Due to budget shortages on the host country's side, complaints continued throughout the tournament regarding facilities and overall competition operations. Yoo Seung-min, President of the Korea Sports Association, officially expressed dissatisfaction at the post-tournament press conference held that day, calling it "the most protested tournament in history."

As the Asian Games flame, where joy and regret intersected, was extinguished, the focus of Asian sports turns to the Middle East. South Korean sports will take on the challenge once again to restore honor at Doha, Qatar, in November 2030, overcoming the tasks identified in Nagoya. The Doha Asian Games are scheduled to open in November 2030, but the possibility of being held in 2031 is also being discussed depending on future circumstances.

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*This content was translated by AI.