(Asiad) Lee hopes his Asian Games medal helps teqball make presence felt in S. Korea

NAGOYA, Japan, Sept. 19 (Yonhap) -- Lee Jun-suk carried the weight of being a pioneer for teqball in South Korea, yet he found comfort after claiming the men's singles final at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Saturday. The South Korean athlete advanced to the final after Zaid Eidan of Kuwait withdrew due to a thigh injury during the semifinal's second set at Nagoya City Higashi Sports Center in northern Nagoya, Japan.

Lee is now assured of at least a silver medal and will meet Ali Jalil Mezher Alelayawi of Iraq in Sunday's gold-medal match.

Earlier in the day, Lee expressed his anxiety about the potential consequences of not winning a medal, fearing that his and his teammates' efforts would have been wasted. As the sole remaining South Korean teqball player, Lee felt a strong sense of responsibility to secure a medal and raise awareness of the sport among his countrymen. He confided that he wanted to provide a medal to his teammates, extending their careers.

Formed approximately six months ago, the Korean teqball team was unable to train at the national facility in Jincheon due to financial and administrative constraints. Despite these limitations, Lee's team persevered, focusing on mastering teqball techniques during the limited training period. Lee's solidarity with his teammates proved crucial, as they trained intensively for six months to prepare for the Asian Games.

Ahead of Sunday's gold-medal match, Lee remains committed to his focus and determination, recalling his previous performances and acknowledging his opponent's strengths. He is confident that a strong, focused effort will lead to a successful outcome.