(Asiad) Men's football captain asks teammates to lean into sense of urgency

In Toyota, Japan, South Korean men's football captain Lee Gi-hyuk requested his teammates to embrace a heightened sense of urgency. At 26, Lee is the eldest member of the under-23 national team participating in the Asian Games. The tournament features teams with players aged 23 or under, while each nation can include up to three players over that age limit. Lee is accompanied by two 24-year-olds, Yang Hyun-jun from Celtic FC and Eom Ji-sung from Swansea City.

Before a training session, Lee disclosed that head coach Lee Min-sung had entrusted him with the responsibility of leading the team. With the Asian Games serving as a platform for South Korean athletes to bypass compulsory military service, Lee emphasized the importance of leveraging the urgency for gold to bolster the team's chances of securing another consecutive victory.

South Korean male athletes who triumph in the Asian Games are exempt from military service, granting them a secure professional path that could lead to lucrative opportunities in prestigious European clubs.

For the upcoming Group D opener against Qatar, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Nagoya City Mizuho Park Rugby Field, Lee expressed his readiness to adapt to any role necessary for the team's success. Having previously played as a center back in the World Cup, Lee is now set to serve as a holding midfielder against Qatar, tasked with providing stability at the heart of the defense and assisting defenders in their efforts.