▲ South Korean players express their disappointment after losing the men's handball bronze medal match against Japan at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games held at Entrio Inazawa in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, on September 29.
The South Korean men's handball national team has missed the podium for the second consecutive Asian Games.
Led by head coach Cho Young-shin, the team lost 37-32 to Japan in the bronze medal match of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games held at Entrio Inazawa in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, on September 29.
As a result, South Korea has missed the podium for two straight tournaments, following the 2022 Hangzhou Games where they finished in a tie for fifth place.
This marks only the third time that the South Korean men's handball team, which has won a record six gold medals since the sport became an official Asian Games event in 1982, has failed to finish within the top three, including the 2006 Doha Games.
Having poured all their efforts into the semifinals against Qatar the previous day only to narrowly miss out on a spot in the final by a two-goal margin, South Korea struggled early in the first half, falling behind 10-4.
Although they managed to narrow the deficit to four points at one point in the second half, they conceded three consecutive goals after the score reached 32-28, leaving them to accept a bitter defeat.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
※
Copying, redistribution, and unauthorized use in AI training are strictly prohibited.