The Korean men's and women's basketball teams have won gold medals at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, marking their first joint victory in 12 years.
The Korean Basketball Association (KBL) and the Korean Women's Basketball Association (WKBL) announced on October 12 that they will award 100 million won and 150 million won, respectively, to the medal-winning national teams.
KBL cited the 100 million won award as a recognition of the men's team's hard work and a boost to the national team's international competitiveness. KBL President Lee Soo-kwang stated, "The national team has brought great joy to the public with their outstanding performance and determination under challenging conditions. I sincerely congratulate and thank all players and coaching staff." He added, "I hope this gold medal reaffirms the strength of Korean basketball and that the national team's success leads to increased interest in domestic basketball, attracting many fans to this season's professional league."
Under the leadership of coach Nikolai Mazulis, the men's basketball team defeated Japan 67-57 in the final held on September 20, achieving their fifth Asian Games gold medal (1970, 1982, 2002, 2014, 2026) since the Incheon Games in 2014.
The WKBL held its third board meeting of the 30th term on October 12 at the Dalgaebi Conference House in Seoul, where it was decided to award a total of 150 million won to the women's basketball team, which won gold in 5-on-5 and bronze in 3-on-3.
The 5-on-5 women's team, coached by Park Soo-ho, triumphed over host Japan 75-70 in the final on September 26. Despite the absence of key players like Park Ji-hyun, who was engaged with her WNBA team, and Park Ji-soo, who was sidelined due to injury, the team managed to defeat China 85-80 in the semifinals and break a seven-game losing streak against Japan to secure their first gold medal in 12 years since the Incheon Games.
The 3-on-3 women's team, led by coach Jeon Byeong-jun, also reached the podium, defeating Thailand 21-8 in the bronze medal match on September 25. This marked the first Asian Games medal for Korean women's basketball in the 3-on-3 format since it became an official event at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Games.
A WKBL official stated, "We decided to award the prize money to the national team, which has repaid the support of the public with excellent results despite difficult circumstances. We appreciate the interest and support shown to the women's basketball team."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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