[Asian Games] 'Disappointing' as South Korean flag mishap sees Games end on sour note

TOYOTA CITY, Japan — South Korean football captain Eom Ji-sung expressed disappointment following the Asian Games, which saw their flag appear to get stuck during the victory ceremony after their 1-0 win over Japan. Eom scored the sole goal, securing South Korea's fourth consecutive title with a triumph at Toyota Stadium near Nagoya on Saturday evening.

However, video footage of the post-match ceremony revealed officials grappling to raise the South Korean flag atop the pole, eliciting boos from Korean spectators. Capt. Lee Gi-hyuk lamented the situation to Yonhap News Agency, stating, "I believe an awards ceremony should be an occasion for celebration. We worked so hard to get here, so it was disappointing that they couldn't even properly unfurl the flag."

He believed the players and fans, who traveled to support their team, likely shared their discontent. Despite the flag issue being rectified after the national anthem concluded, the Aichi-Nagoya Games have been marred by organizational hiccups, leading to a disheartening conclusion.