The South Korean men's hockey team saw its bid to reach the Asian Games final for the first time in 20 years come to an end on October 1.
Under the guidance of head coach Min Tae-seok, South Korea lost 1-2 to Malaysia in the semifinals held at Gakaminaka Green Stadium in Gifu Prefecture, Japan.
The match remained scoreless in the first half, with both teams locked in a tight contest. The deadlock was broken in the third quarter when South Korea conceded a penalty corner, allowing Malaysia to score first. Lee Kang-san (29, Incheon City Sports Association) equalized just two minutes later, but South Korea allowed a penalty shot three minutes after that, losing the lead once again. Despite efforts to score in the final quarter, South Korea could not penetrate Malaysia's defense and finished the match without further goals.
This defeat means South Korea will have to wait another four years for a chance to reach the final, having last done so at the 2006 Doha Asian Games, where they won the gold medal. Since then, they have not reached the final, securing bronze medals at the 2014 Incheon Games and the 2022 Hangzhou Games.
Following this setback, South Korea will face Pakistan in the bronze medal match on October 3 at 4:30 PM. Malaysia, which defeated South Korea, will compete against India in the final. The South Korean women's hockey team will also play for bronze against Japan on October 2 at 4:30 PM at the same venue.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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