Green Light for Kim Do-young at Third Base... "Confirmed to Have No Issues"

[Anchor]

The national baseball team, aiming for its fifth consecutive Asian Games title, has held its first training session. Star player Kim Do-young, who previously injured his nose, smoothly completed defensive drills without any issues, increasing the likelihood that he will take over as the regular third baseman.

Reporter Jeon Yeongmin has the story.

[Reporter]

Players wearing the national team uniforms point to the Taegeukgi emblazoned on their chests, reaffirming their resolve.

[Team Korea, fighting!]

The players familiarized themselves with Taiwanese players by watching footage on the scoreboard, including left-handed pitcher Lin Yu-min, who is considered a potential starter against South Korea.

Kim Do-young, who suffered a fractured nasal bone, stepped into training wearing a protective nasal guard. He proved there are no defensive issues by fielding ground balls at third base.

[Kim Do-young / National Baseball Team Infielder: (Regarding the nose injury,) you can basically consider that it has zero impact on playing baseball. Having had plenty of rest, I really feel like my body is light.]

He also shared that he received a check-in call from national team senior Lee Jung-hoo.

[Kim Do-young / National Baseball Team Infielder: Jung-hoo hyung reached out to me from afar, which made me realize, 'Ah, it really was that big of a deal.']

Manager Ryu Ji-hyun, who called Kim Do-young over during training to personally check his condition, put his worries to rest.

[Ryu Ji-hyun / National Baseball Team Manager: (Kim Do-young's nose condition) has been confirmed to be completely trouble-free, and we will step-by-step prepare for the tournament over the week.]

Noh Si-hwan, who was appointed as team captain, lightened the mood with a joke when unusually fast hits came flying his way.

[Coach, this discrimination is too severe! Coach, discrimination!]

[Take it easy!]

The national team will coordinate with each other for two days, play a practice match against Sangmu the day after tomorrow (the 17th), and then depart for Nagoya on the 18th.

(Video by: Yoo Dong-hyuk, Video Editing by: Park Jung-sam, Design by: Kim Ye-ji)

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