Asian Games Soccer Clash
South Korea Faces Bangladesh Ahead of Crucial Match Against North Korea
Anonymous
Key Points
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South Korea’s judo team is targeting at least four gold medals. In the women’s 57-kilogram division, Heo Mi-mi will compete for South Korea after giving up her Japanese citizenship; she was born in Tokyo and is a third-generation Zainichi Korean.
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Badminton world No. 1 An Se-young is seeking a second consecutive Asian Games double after winning both the women’s singles and team gold medals in 2022. Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi, ranked No. 3, has lost her last seven matches against An but says she is fully recovered from injuries.
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South Korea’s women’s soccer team has won bronze at the last three Asian Games in which it reached the podium — Guangzhou in 2010, Incheon in 2014 and Jakarta-Palembang in 2018 — but was eliminated in the quarterfinals at Hangzhou 2023. North Korea’s coach Pak Song-jin identified South Korea, China and Japan as the tournament’s strongest contenders and singled out Ji So-yun as a major threat.
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South Korea defeated Japan 100-83 in men’s basketball group play. The teams could meet again in the final if both advance through the semifinals; South Korea next faces Jordan in the quarterfinals.
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A Korea-Japan baseball matchup is provisionally set for the Super Round on Sept. 25, provided South Korea tops Group B after its game against Taiwan. South Korea’s women’s softball team is scheduled to meet Japan, a leading title contender, on Sept. 30.
South Korea is preparing for a crucial women's soccer match against Bangladesh at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, part of a broader push to win as many as 45 gold medals and defend third place in the overall medal count. Reuters reported that South Korea's women's soccer team opened with a dominant 5-0 victory over Myanmar and now faces Bangladesh before a highly anticipated group-stage clash against North Korea on September 21.
Bangladesh, which conceded 10 goals in its opener against North Korea, says it will focus on defensive improvement. Meanwhile, South Korea faces intense competition from Japan across multiple sports including judo, badminton, baseball and handball, with Korea-Japan rivalries expected to define the Games.
Women's Soccer: North Korea Aims for Fourth Title
North Korea opened the tournament with a dominant 10-0 victory over Bangladesh and is pursuing its fourth Asian Games women's soccer title. Reuters noted that North Korea's coach Pak Song-jin has identified South Korea, China and Japan as the tournament's strongest contenders and singled out South Korean player Ji So-yun as a major threat to the team's medal hopes.
South Korea is seeking its first women's soccer medal since 2010, when the team won bronze in Guangzhou. The team also claimed bronze medals at Incheon in 2014 and Jakarta-Palembang in 2018, but was eliminated in the quarterfinals at Hangzhou 2023.
An Se-young Chases Second Consecutive Badminton Double
Badminton world No. 1 An Se-young is seeking a second consecutive Asian Games double after winning both the women's singles and team gold medals in 2022. Japan's Akane Yamaguchi, ranked No. 3, has lost her last seven matches against An but says she is fully recovered from injuries and ready to compete at the highest level.
Judo Star Heo Mi-mi Competes for South Korea
South Korea's judo team is targeting at least four gold medals at the Games. In the women's 57-kilogram division, Heo Mi-mi will compete for South Korea after giving up her Japanese citizenship. She was born in Tokyo and is a third-generation Zainichi Korean, bringing a unique story to the competition.
South Korea's Basketball Team Eyes Final Rematch With Japan
South Korea defeated Japan 100-83 in men's basketball group play and could meet again in the final if both teams advance through the semifinals. ESPN reported that South Korea next faces Jordan in the quarterfinals, setting up a potential championship showdown with the Japanese team.
Beyond basketball, a Korea-Japan baseball matchup is provisionally set for the Super Round on September 25, provided South Korea tops Group B after its game against Taiwan. South Korea's women's softball team is scheduled to meet Japan on September 30, as Japan remains a leading title contender in the sport.
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