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The women's national basketball team, the Yeorangi, has pulled off a massive upset. They defeated China, anchored by the two-meter-twenty-six-centimeter "human Great Wall" Zhang Ziyu, in the semifinals. Riding this momentum, they will challenge for their first gold medal in twelve years tomorrow (the 26th).

Reporter Kim Hyeong-yeol has the details.

[Reporter]

Even among the Chinese squad, which boasts an average height of 188 centimeters, Zhang Ziyu—standing more than a head taller at 2m 26cm—showed an overwhelming presence in the paint.

Even when Jin An and Lee Hae-ran, both 182 centimeters tall, teamed up to guard her, she grabbed the ball right over their heads and easily laid it in.

[Push her out!]

Efforts to muscle her out from under the basket failed due to a disadvantage in strength, leading to inside shots allowed, and despite desperate defensive efforts, they conceded baskets along with additional free throws.

Even when outmatched in height, the Taegeuk daughters did not give up.

Heo Ye-eun and Lee So-hee fired consecutive three-pointers, while Lee Hae-ran used her quick speed to draw a foul from Zhang Ziyu and drive into the paint.

As Zhang Ziyu showed growing signs of fatigue, team captain Kang Lee-seul's scoring ignited from the middle of the fourth quarter while they were trailing 69 to 62.

Following back-to-back three-pointers and an inside drive, she scored eight straight points to lead a 70 to 69 turnaround.

Gaining momentum, the national team saw Choi I-sam, Lee Hae-ran, and Lee So-hee sink consecutive perimeter shots, and they calmly converted free throws despite the opponent's late-game fouling strategy.

When the final buzzer sounded to announce the 85 to 80 victory, all the players ran out onto the court, embraced each other, and shared their joy.

Even without ace Park Ji-su, who was sidelined by injury, and Park Ji-hyun, who advanced to the U.S. stage, they snapped a six-game losing streak against world number seven China and wrote history by sending both the men's and women's teams to the finals together for the first time in twelve years.

[Kang Lee-seul / Women's National Basketball Team Captain : "It doesn't feel real that we beat China, and I'm just so happy."]

[Lee So-hee / National Basketball Team Player : "Fueled by your support, we really want to win the gold medal in tomorrow's final and bring it back home."]

Having produced a major upset with tenacious defense and high-accuracy perimeter shots, the national team will face host nation Japan tomorrow evening in pursuit of a combined men's and women's gold medal sweep for the first time in twelve years.

(Video by Lee Seung-hee, Design by Kim Han-gil)