The South Korean men's handball team will compete in the semifinals of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on September 28 at 5:30 PM at the Inazawa Entry Hall in Japan, aiming for a spot in the finals for the first time in eight years. Their opponent is the defending champion Qatar, who is seeking a fourth consecutive title.
Under the leadership of Coach Jo Young-shin, South Korea advanced to the semifinals by defeating China 32-26 in the quarterfinals on September 26. In the match against China, the teams were tied 5-5 in the first half before Kim Jin-young (Army) scored a breakthrough goal, followed by consecutive goals from Jeon Jin-soo (Incheon Urban Corporation) and Yeon Min-mo (Hanam City Hall), allowing South Korea to pull ahead 8-5. They ended the first half leading 16-12. In the closing moments of the second half, with the score at 27-22, Park Se-woong scored two consecutive 6-meter shots, and Kim Rak-chan added a 9-meter shot, extending the lead to 30-22 and securing the victory.
Kim Rak-chan (Incheon Urban Corporation) and Park Se-woong each scored six goals, while Kim Jin-young and Lee Yo-seop contributed five goals each. Goalkeeper Park Jae-yong's saves on 7-meter throws also played a crucial role in the team's success.
South Korea finished second in Group B with two wins, one draw, and one loss. They achieved a comeback victory against Kuwait, winning 26-23, but lost to Bahrain 21-30.
Qatar is the top team in Asia, having won the 2014 Incheon, 2018 Jakarta-Palembang, and 2022 Hangzhou tournaments. In the quarterfinals on September 26, they defeated Iran 31-25. However, South Korea has a recent victory over Qatar, having won 32-31 in the group stage of the Asian Championship in January, which gives them hope for a favorable outcome.
Coach Jo Young-shin, who led the team to a gold medal in the 2010 Guangzhou Games, stated before the semifinal, "Qatar has strong mid-range scoring abilities, and we cannot compete with them through normal game operations. We plan to employ a strong, unconventional close defense and quick transitions between offense and defense. In our attack, we will focus on strategies that widen Qatar's defensive range rather than relying solely on breakthroughs."
This marks South Korea's first appearance in the Asian Games semifinals since winning a bronze medal at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Games. They were eliminated in the quarterfinals at the 2022 Hangzhou Games. If they can stop Qatar's quest for a fourth consecutive title and reach the finals, it will be their first chance to compete for a gold medal since the 2010 Guangzhou Games.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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