16-Day Run Ends, But Korean Sports Left With Homework

[Anchor]

The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games have concluded their 16-day run with the closing ceremony just moments ago. Our national delegation delivered deep emotions through dramas woven with sweat and tears, but finishing with the fewest gold medals in 44 years also highlighted the widening gap with China and Japan.

Reporter Ha Seong-ryong has the details from Nagoya.

[Reporter]

An Se-young, who threw down the manifesto to go "crazy," overwhelmed her opponents, wrote a new chapter of consecutive titles, and stood tall as the greatest of all time,

[An Se-young / National Badminton Team: It's truly crazy. The feeling is crazy, too. Today, I'm going to enjoy hearing the word GOAT.]

Oh Sang-uk, who overcame a waist injury with a miraculous four-consecutive-point comeback to claim double titles for the second straight tournament and was selected as our delegation's MVP; along with the men's and women's basketball teams that reignited their fighting spirit against a repeatedly victorious Japan to restore our pride—all 790 Taegeuk warriors gave their absolute all in Nagoya.

The passion of teenage rising stars, the indomitable fighting spirit of veterans who refuse to give up, and the fierce drive of athletes who soared higher, faster, and stronger despite the sorrow of unpopular sports left a profound resonance.

[Kim Hyo-bin / National Canoe Team (Two-time Gold Medalist): Since there is nowhere proper to train, I hope active support can be provided for equipment.]

Korean sports have also confirmed major homework ahead.

Ending with the men's football team's unprecedented fourth consecutive title, we won 39 gold medals, but for the first time since the 1982 New Delhi Asian Games, we failed to reach 40 gold medals, continuing a downward trend for three consecutive tournaments and widening the gap with China and Japan.

Amid the rapid rise of athletes from Central Asia alongside China and Japan, compounded by sluggish performances in traditional powerhouse events like archery, taekwondo, and swimming, our delegation faces an emergency as we prepare for the LA Olympics two years from now.

[SEUNGMIN / President of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee: I am confident that (this tournament) can serve as a great catalyst for receiving more motivation, and our role is to provide precise and scaled support.]

To move forward as a stronger Team Korea, precise analysis and cold evaluation for each sport appear necessary.

(Video by Park Hyun-chul | Video Editing by Hwang Ji-young | Graphics by Hwang Se-yeon)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.