[Asian Games] S. Korea wins gold in women's handball, ending 8-year drought

South Korea claimed the women's handball gold medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, finally ending an eight-year title drought. The victory came against host nation Japan in the sixth and final round of the women's handball competition at Entrio in Inazawa, located north-west of Nagoya, Japan. The Korean team secured a 27-23 win in the decisive match, advancing to the final after finishing the tournament with a perfect 6-0 record, surpassing Japan's 5-1 tally.

Unlike most competitions, the Asian Games women's handball did not employ a knockout stage; instead, all seven teams played each other once, and the top teams received medals based on their final standings. Sunday's triumph marked South Korea's first Asian Games title in eight years, following their wins in 2014 and 2018, and their titleless finish in 2023.

The achievement also marks South Korea's eighth overall Asian Games championship since women's handball was introduced to the quadrennial continental multisport event in 1990. Both South Korea and Japan entered the final round unbeaten, each with five wins. The rematch between the two teams in the final was a replay of the event's previous conclusion at the Hangzhou Asian Games.