▲ The South Korean men's hockey team finishes the 2026 Asian Games in fourth place.
The South Korean men's national hockey team narrowly missed the podium after falling to Pakistan.
Led by head coach Min Tae-seok, the national team suffered a 5-3 comeback defeat against powerhouse Pakistan in the bronze medal match held today (the 3rd) at the Kakamigahara Gifu Green Stadium in Gifu, Japan.
Pakistan is the most successful country in men's hockey at the Asian Games, having won the tournament a record eight times.
South Korea aimed for its second consecutive bronze medal following its third-place finish at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, but failed to hold on during the final 15 minutes of the fourth quarter.
After conceding the opening goal to Pakistan in the first quarter, South Korea leveled the score 1-1 with a field goal by Lee Gang-san (Incheon City Sports Council).
In the second quarter, the team pulled ahead 3-1 thanks to a field goal by Kim Yong-bok (Seongnam City Hall) and a penalty corner goal by Yang Ji-hoon (Gimhae City Hall).
However, while successfully fending off Pakistan's fierce attacks during a tense third quarter with a 3-2 lead, South Korea allowed a field goal midway through the fourth quarter to tie the game at 3-3.
After losing momentum by giving up another penalty corner goal, South Korea conceded a final dagger goal into an empty net, resulting in a 5-3 defeat.
At the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, South Korean hockey was the only team ball sport where both the men's and women's squads won medals, but this time, both teams unfortunately concluded their tournament runs in fourth place.
(Photo provided by the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Organizing Committee, Yonhap News)
※
Copying, redistribution, and unauthorized use in AI training are strictly prohibited.