(Asiad) Coach hopes women's hoops gold will inspire new generation of players

NAGOYA, Japan, Sept. 26 (Yonhap) -- After leading South Korea to a women's basketball gold medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, coach Park Soo-ho expressed hope that the victory would inspire a new generation of players. The Korean team triumphed over Japan 75-70 in the final at Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, marking the nation's first women's basketball gold since 2014.

Park emphasized that he could not predict when a day like this would come again, and he would cherish it for a long time. He credited his players for their efforts, noting that they deserved all the praise. However, the team was short-handed, as he carried 11 players instead of the maximum allowed, due to injuries to center Park Ji-su and guard Park Ji-hyun, who was busy with her commitments to the Women's National Basketball Association's Los Angeles Sparks.

The absence of these two key players, who could have made a significant difference in the crucial final moments, highlighted the lack of depth in South Korea's national women's basketball program. Park acknowledged the team's youth and inexperience, stating that the presence of veteran players was instrumental in securing the gold medal. He expressed optimism that this accomplishment would inspire young players and potentially expand the talent pool in the sport.

Despite the challenges posed by the shallow roster depth, Park remained confident that his team could achieve great results with determination and focus. He believed that some of the players had recognized the importance of their collective effort in achieving this milestone, and he was hopeful that the victory would motivate a new wave of basketball enthusiasts in South Korea.