Kim Yu-jin chases grand slam; men's hockey seeks final berth

South Korea sits third with 24 golds, pushes for more in final stretch

The South Korean League of Legends national team, led by T1's "Faker" Lee Sang-hyeok, is bidding for back-to-back Asian Games gold at Aichi Sky Expo. [Yonhap]
The South Korean League of Legends national team, led by T1's "Faker" Lee Sang-hyeok, is bidding for back-to-back Asian Games gold at Aichi Sky Expo. [Yonhap]

As the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games enter their final stretch, South Korea's delegation is pushing hard for medals over the next two days. Taekwondo and judo lead the charge Thursday, with archery, esports and boxing following on Friday.

Taekwondo competition opens Thursday at Toyohashi Gymnasium in Aichi Prefecture, with Yoon Gyu-seong of the Second Operations Command competing in men's poomsae and targeting South Korea's first gold of the day.

A total of 11 gold medals are on offer in taekwondo at these Games — two in poomsae (men's and women's), eight in kyorugi (men's and women's), and one in the newly introduced virtual mixed team event.

At Aichi International Arena the same day, Paris Olympic medalists Lee Jun-hwan of Pohang City Hall and Heo Mimi of the North Gyeongsang Province Sports Council will vie for judo gold. Lee won bronze in the men's 81-kilogram category at the 2024 Paris Olympics, while Heo took silver in the women's 57-kilogram class.

The men's hockey team is also chasing a place in the final. South Korea faces Malaysia in a semifinal at Kakamigahara Green Stadium in Gifu Prefecture at 7 p.m. Thursday. A win would send the team to its first final since the 2006 Doha Games, where it claimed gold — a gap of 20 years. The winners of both the men's and women's hockey tournaments at these Games will earn berths at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

South Korea's Kang Chae-young walks and takes notes after checking the target during the women's recurve individual archery round of 16 against India's Kirti at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, held at Okazaki Central General Park Multipurpose Plaza in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, on Tuesday. [Yonhap]
South Korea's Kang Chae-young walks and takes notes after checking the target during the women's recurve individual archery round of 16 against India's Kirti at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, held at Okazaki Central General Park Multipurpose Plaza in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, on Tuesday. [Yonhap]

Friday brings a wave of medal contenders across multiple disciplines. The recurve archery team will target all three team gold medals available that day. The women's squad — Kang Chae-young, Oh Ye-jin and Lee Yun-ji — faces Indonesia in the semifinals, with the winner advancing to meet either India or China in the final.

The men's team of Kim Je-deok, Kim Woo-jin and Lee Woo-seok takes on Taiwan in their semifinal, with the victor set to face the winner of the India-Iran match for gold. In the mixed team event, South Korea battles China for a spot in the final.

In esports, the League of Legends national team, spearheaded by "Faker" Lee Sang-hyeok, will bid for back-to-back Asian Games gold at Aichi Sky Expo.

Competing in his third Asian Games, Lee said he feels "honored and grateful" for the opportunity. "I feel a great sense of responsibility, and this is a chance to give the nation a sense of pride," he said.

Judo national team members Kim Jong-hun (left) and Kim Min-jong train during a media day open practice session for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games judo national team, held Sept. 9 at the National Training Center in Jincheon-gun, North Chungcheong Province. [Yonhap]
Judo national team members Kim Jong-hun (left) and Kim Min-jong train during a media day open practice session for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games judo national team, held Sept. 9 at the National Training Center in Jincheon-gun, North Chungcheong Province. [Yonhap]

South Korea's heavyweight judo contenders also step onto the mat Friday. Kim Min-jong, a silver medalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics, competes in the men's over-100-kilogram category and aims for a second Asian Games medal after his bronze at the Hangzhou Games. In the women's over-78-kilogram class, Lee Hyeon-ji — who defeated defending Hangzhou champion Kim Ha-yun in the national selection process — will represent South Korea.

Boxing offers the prospect of South Korea's first Asian Games gold in the sport in 12 years. Jang Dong-hwan in the men's 60-kilogram final faces Abdulmalik Khalokov of Uzbekistan, while Kim Min-seong in the 80-kilogram final meets Fazliddin Erkinboev, also of Uzbekistan.

As of the close of competition Wednesday, South Korea stood third in the overall standings with 24 gold medals, 30 silver and 49 bronze. China leads with 150 golds, followed by Japan with 50, while fourth-place Uzbekistan trails South Korea by eight golds with 16. With taekwondo, judo and archery still to come, attention is turning to how many more golds South Korea can add while defending its third-place finish.

South Korea's gold-medal push, which begins with taekwondo and judo Thursday, continues Friday with archery, esports and boxing as the Games draw to a close.


yjc@heraldcorp.com