[Asian Games] S. Korea gets revenge on Japan, wins Asiad handball gold

In a thrilling comeback, South Korea secured a hard-fought victory over Japan in the women's handball gold medal match at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, marking their first triumph since 2018. The intense encounter took place in the sixth and final round of the competition, with Korea emerging victorious 27-23.

The loss to Japan three years ago weighed heavily on the Korean players, but this recent win brought immense joy and satisfaction. "The loss made our hearts bleed three years ago, but this victory made us extremely happy," stated goalkeeper Park Sae-young, who contributed to the team's success with 12 crucial saves.

Looking ahead, the Korean team expressed their determination to face Japan again in upcoming tournaments, including the Olympics. They pledged to continue working towards another win, demonstrating their commitment to future competitions.

The handball tournament at the Asiad did not follow a knockout format. Instead, all seven participating teams engaged in a round-robin style, playing each other once. The gold medal was determined based on the final standings from the group stage. Prior to the decisive match, both Korea and Japan had remained undefeated, each securing five wins, making Sunday's match ultimately decisive between the two teams. Captain Kwon Han led the victorious squad.