{
  "id": 8972261,
  "title": "South Korea win Asian Games gold after bus fails to arrive, then it happens again",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/south-korea-win-asian-games-gold-after-bus-fails-to-arrive-then-it",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-21T16:35:38.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/sport/south-korea-win-asian-games-gold-after-bus-fails-to-arrive-then-it-happens-again-1.500682846"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "South Korea's men's basketball team faced an unusual challenge before their Asian Games gold medal match against Japan. Their bus, which was supposed to take them to a morning shootaround practice at a gym in Nagoya, failed to arrive. This left the team without any pre-match training. The team captain, Lee Seoung hyun, expressed the players' anger at this unexpected incident, calling it unacceptable before such a crucial final. However, the situation took an unexpected turn. Instead of training, the players decided to walk together, have coffee, and try to relax. Captain Lee later revealed that this frustration actually fueled the team's motivation, leading them to approach the game with a \"win or die\" determination. Ultimately, their efforts paid off as they defeated Japan 67-57, clinching their first Asian Games men's basketball gold medal since 2014. The victorious team members, led by forward Yeo Jun seok, were left waiting for their bus once again, this time on the morning of their departure from the Asian Games. Despite the repeated bus issues, South Korea returned home with their gold medals around their necks.",
  "summary": "Imagine preparing for an Asian Games final against the host nation and the bus that is supposed to take you to training simply does not turn up. That is exactly what happened to South Korea's men's basketball team before their gold medal match against Japan. South Korea had scheduled a morning shootaround at a practice gym in Nagoya before the final. The shuttle was supposed to collect the…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "In Japan’s Asian Games, China’s growing footprint — on field & behind the scenes",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/in-japans-asian-games-chinas-growing-footprint-on-field-behind-the",
        "published": "2026-09-21T14:53:47.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn",
        "title": "Asian Games: Pakistan kabaddi team cruise past Malaysia as Asim Khan takes MMA bronze",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/asian-games-pakistan-kabaddi-team-cruise-past-malaysia-as-asim-khan",
        "published": "2026-09-21T15:46:11.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "IOL",
        "title": "2026 Asian Games open with Team China ready to shine",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/2026-asian-games-open-with-team-china-ready-to-shine",
        "published": "2026-09-21T18:01:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Times",
        "title": "Pakistan kabaddi team cruises past Malaysia in Asian Games as Asim takes MMA bronze",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/pakistan-kabaddi-team-cruises-past-malaysia-in-asian-games-as-asim",
        "published": "2026-09-21T18:49:31.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}