"Could It Be On Purpose?" Team Korea Stranded by Vehicle "No-Show" Ahead of South Korea-Japan Final

On the very day the South Korean men's basketball national team was set to chase its first Asian Games gold medal in 12 years, an absurd incident occurred where vehicles scheduled to transport them to the training venue failed to arrive, preventing them from practicing.

The South Korean men's basketball team is scheduled to face Japan in the final of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at 7:40 PM today (September 20) at the Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, Japan.

Ahead of the final, the national team had planned to loosen up with shooting drills and other exercises at a separate gymnasium in the morning. However, the vehicles assigned to pick them up around 10:00 AM did not show up, offering no explanation.

Left stranded, the national team had no choice but to cancel their planned training.

The South Korean men's basketball team has advanced to the final for the first time in 12 years since the 2014 Incheon Games, raising expectations for a gold medal at this tournament.

Yet, this situation curiously unfolded right before the final against the host country, Japan.

Even before opening with yesterday's opening ceremony, the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games have been plagued by continuous operational noise.

Criticism has persisted over a shortage of lodging facilities or accommodations unsuitable for athletes, and instances of disruptions in transportation for official schedules have also piled up.

The national team is expected to take official action through the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee.

The committee previously lodged protests with the organizing committee regarding a welcome ceremony performance at the athletes' village featuring Toyotomi Hideyoshi, as well as an incident where the North Korean national anthem was played instead of the South Korean national anthem at a men's hockey match.

An official from the Korea Basketball Association stated, "The team will remain calm and unruffled, preparing for the final in the remaining time."

Reported by Jung Da-eun | Video by Na Hong-hee | Graphics by Lee Jung-joo | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.