▲ The South Korean women's softball national team finished 5th at the 2026 Asian Games.
South Korean softball has once again fallen short of winning its first-ever Asian Games medal in its 10th attempt.
The national team was defeated 11-1 by Taiwan in the final round-robin match of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games held at the Anjo Softball Field in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, on October 2.
After being tied 1-1, the team collapsed in the bottom of the fourth inning by surrendering a massive 10 runs.
South Korea wrapped up this year's Asian Games, which featured eight participating nations, with a record of 3 wins and 4 losses, finishing in 5th place.
Having relentlessly knocked on the door of an Asian Games medal for 10 consecutive tournaments starting from the 1990 Beijing Games, the national team entrusted its leadership to veteran Japanese manager Atsushi Kumon, hoping for a different outcome than before.
However, the team failed to overcome powerhouses such as Japan, China, Taiwan, and the Philippines.
South Korea's best-ever finish in Asian Games history remains 4th place, which the team has achieved three times.
Based on the round-robin standings, Japan and China will compete for the gold medal, while Taiwan and the Philippines will battle for the bronze.
(Photo courtesy of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Organizing Committee, Yonhap News)
※
Copying, redistribution, and unauthorized use in AI training are strictly prohibited.