The South Korean men's volleyball team lost to China in a thrilling five-set match during the final group stage of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, finishing second in their group and advancing to the quarterfinals.
Under the guidance of head coach Isanaye Ramirez, South Korea fell to China with a set score of 2-3 (27-25, 23-25, 21-25, 25-22, 12-15) on September 29 at the Park Arena Komaki in Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
Heo Soo-bong of Hyundai Capital led the team with 17 points, including three service aces, while Lee Sang-hyun of the Army Sports Corps contributed 14 points with eight blocks. However, their efforts were not enough to secure a victory.
Having already secured a spot in the quarterfinals by defeating the Philippines and Taiwan, South Korea finished the group stage with a record of two wins and one loss, placing them second in the group. China topped the group with three consecutive wins.
South Korea started strong, taking the first set after a hard-fought battle that went to deuce, with Heo's service point clinching the set. However, they lost focus in the second and third sets, dropping both.
In a critical moment during the fourth set, South Korea faced a setback when key attacker Lim Seong-jin from the Army Sports Corps injured his ankle after a block and had to leave the court in a wheelchair.
After regrouping, South Korea regained momentum with consecutive blocks from Choi Jun-hyuk of Korean Air and Lee Sang-hyun, winning the fourth set 25-22 to tie the match.
In the decisive fifth set, South Korea fell behind 4-8 but showed resilience, leveling the score at 8-8 with points from substitute Shin Ho-jin of Hyundai Capital and a service ace from Lim Jae-young of Korean Air. However, they ultimately lost the match 12-15 after failing to overcome crucial rallies.
South Korea's quarterfinal opponent will be Iran, the top team from Group B.
Iran has been a dominant force in Asian volleyball, winning gold medals at the 2014 Incheon, 2018 Jakarta-Palembang, and 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games. They are considered a strong contender for the championship in this tournament as well.
The quarterfinal match between South Korea and Iran is scheduled for October 1 at 1 p.m.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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