The South Korean men's volleyball team faced a tough battle against defending champion Iran but ultimately fell short of reaching the semifinals.
Under the guidance of head coach Isanaye Ramirez, South Korea lost to Iran 3-2 (23-25, 25-18, 25-21, 20-25, 12-15) in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, held on October 1 at the Okazaki Central Gymnasium in Japan.
After dropping the first set, South Korea rallied to win the second and third sets, taking a 2-1 lead. However, they struggled to withstand Iran's height and offensive power in the fourth set, leading to a decisive fifth set.
In the first set, South Korea struggled against Iran's strong serves and blocks, falling behind 2-6. However, with contributions from Dong-hyuk Lim (Korean Air) and Su-bong Heo (Hyundai Capital), they narrowed the gap to 23-24 but ultimately lost the set 23-25.
The momentum shifted in the second set as Heo and Han-yong Jung (Korean Air) found their rhythm, and a series of Iranian errors allowed South Korea to take control. With a service ace from Jung and successful attacks from Lim, South Korea won the set 25-18, leveling the match.
Building on their success, South Korea continued to dominate in the third set, with quick attacks from Young-seok Cha (KB Insurance) and Lim contributing to a 25-21 victory, putting them one set away from the semifinals.
However, Iran mounted a strong comeback in the fourth set, blocking South Korea's attacks and taking an early lead. Despite using substitutions to close the gap, South Korea could not overcome the deficit and lost the set 20-25.
The fifth set began with a tight contest, but after trailing 7-8, South Korea's attacks were repeatedly thwarted. They fought back but ultimately succumbed 12-15. Heo scored 22 points, while Lim added 18, combining for 40 points, but it was not enough to secure victory.
Earlier in the group stage, South Korea defeated the Philippines and Taiwan but lost to China in a five-set match, finishing second in their group and setting up a quarterfinal clash with the formidable Iranian team. The absence of key outside hitter Seong-jin Im (Military Sports Corps), who suffered a partial ligament tear in his right ankle during the match against China, further complicated their efforts.
Since winning a silver medal at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Games, South Korea's men's volleyball team has struggled to secure medals at the Asian Games. They finished seventh at the 2023 Hangzhou Games, marking the first time in 61 years since the 1962 Jakarta Games that they failed to win a medal. With this latest quarterfinal exit, they face the disappointment of back-to-back tournaments without a medal.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.