▲ South Korean volleyball player Kang So-hwi attacks during the women's volleyball bronze medal match against Thailand at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games held at Park Arena Komaki in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, on the 22nd.
"This was my last Asian Games."
Kang So-hwi (Korea Expressway Corporation), the captain and starting outside hitter of the women's national volleyball team, shed tears after a 0-3 set defeat to Thailand in the bronze medal match at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
Speaking with reporters after the match against Thailand held at Park Arena Komaki in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, today (the 22nd), she reflected on the tournament and could not hide her disappointment.
"I will be 33 years old in four years," she said. "This Asian Games was effectively the last one of my life."
She added, "That is why I gritted my teeth and played even harder, but we ended up with a disappointing result. Still, I have no regrets because I did my best."
Kang So-hwi, a pillar of South Korean women's volleyball, poured everything into this tournament, just as she promised.
Ahead of the competition, she suffered a torn thigh muscle and was not in peak physical condition. Even after barely recovering, she faced a difficult situation where aggressive plays carried a high risk of re-injury.
Nevertheless, Kang focused on every single moment, risking a recurrence of her injury.
Painful memories from the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games held three years ago also motivated Kang to push harder.
At that time, South Korea lost to Vietnam in the group stage, failing to advance to the semifinals and finishing the tournament in fifth place.
Having wept profusely after her final match three years ago, Kang gave her all in this tournament with the determination to wash away that past pain.
In the group stage match against Vietnam, she delivered a stellar performance, scoring a match-high 27 points.
However, it fell short of securing a medal.
Blocked consecutively by powerhouse Japan in the semifinals and Thailand in the bronze medal match, she wrapped up her final Asian Games empty-handed.
Kang vowed, "Though we achieved a disappointing result, we discovered hope that if we fight with tenacity, we can play on equal terms against strong teams. The Asian Games are over, but international competitions like the 2027 International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) World Cup continue. My national team teammates and I will overcome this by trusting one another."
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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