South Korea's college squad clinches first Asian Games 3x3 basketball gold
A South Korean university team captured the men's 3x3 basketball gold at the Asian Games, beating Qatar 19-10 in Nagoya.
In Nagoya, Japan, a quartet of South Korean university athletes secured the men's 3x3 basketball gold at the Asian Games, overcoming Qatar 19-10 at the Kinjo Futo Station Square Venue. The team—Lee Ju-yeong and Kim Seung-woo of Yonsei University, Lee Dong-geun of Korea University and Ku Min-gyo of Sungkyunkwan University—averaged 21.7 years old and were 7.5 centimetres shorter than their opponents, yet they forced only one turnover and collected 16 rebounds to Qatar's 17.
Their victory arrived five days after the South Korean 5x5 men's squad claimed gold, a result that inspired the 3x3 players and heightened their confidence. Kim observed that the Qatari side grew fatigued as the game progressed, while Lee Dong-geun said he was prepared to give everything on the court. Ku expressed a desire to leverage the medal as a stepping stone toward a future place on the 5x5 national team.
Why it matters
The win gives South Korea its first Asian Games gold in 3x3 basketball and showcases emerging university talent.
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