Lee Jun-seok Bets His Life on Teqball: "Mom, I Won a Gold Medal!"

[Anchor]

A gold medal has been won in teqball, which was introduced as an official event for the first time at this tournament. Former soccer player Lee Jun-seok, who gave up his livelihood to jump into the unfamiliar sport, shared the joy of victory with his mother.

Reporter Jeon Yeongmin has the story.

[Reporter]

Advancing to the final with an unstoppable momentum without conceding a single set in the tournament, Lee showcased overwhelming skill against Iraq's Al-Erhayawi in the final as well.

He left his opponent helpless with consecutive attacks using the side of his foot and closed out the first set with an exquisite receive followed by a powerful strike.

Driving his opponent relentlessly in the second set as well, Lee secured a 2-0 victory before hugging his teammates and shedding tears endlessly.

Lee shouted out to his mother, who believed in him and dedicated herself while he staked his life on an unpopular sport,

[Mom! I won a gold medal! A gold medal!]

He hung the gold medal around his neck and relished the joy in a warm embrace with his mother.

[You should make a pretty face! (I was never pretty to begin with~)]

Clutching her son's gold medal tightly in her hand, his mother choked up with emotion.

[Yoon Soon-jung / Mother of athlete Lee Jun-seok: Because he is such a kind and wonderful son who never causes trouble, now that a great stepping stone has been created, I hope he steps on it, gathers strength, and works even harder.]

A former soccer player who was working as a contract worker at a major corporation while enjoying teqball, Lee threw away the opportunity for a regular full-time position and handed in his resignation upon hearing the news that it had been adopted as an official Asian Games event. After sweating it out by renting indoor training facilities and lodging, and enduring poor accommodations and meals in Nagoya,

[I wanted to work out in the room too, but it was too cramped here so I couldn't.]

Lee, who has prepared for this moment, felt that becoming the first-ever Asian Games champion in men's singles teqball felt like a dream.

[Lee Jun-seok / Teqball National Team: I now realize what people mean when they say 'I can't believe it.' I think this is a moment of happiness so profound that I wonder if there could ever be another moment this happy in my life.]

Emerging as the South Korean delegation's first breakout star of the tournament, Lee also successfully played the role of an evangelist, introducing the once-unfamiliar sport of teqball to the entire nation.

(Camera Reporter: Yang Hyun-chul, Video Editor: Choi Hye-ran, Designer: Kang Yoon-jung)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.