Veteran stars lead South Korea's women's handball squad toward Asian Games gold
South Korea's women's handball team, anchored by seasoned players such as goalkeeper Park Sae-young and scorer Lee Yeon-kyung, is targeting the gold medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, with a decisive showdown against host Japan.
Ahead of the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi and Nagoya, South Korea's women's handball team has assembled a 16-player squad that mixes 30-plus veterans with rising stars in their early 20s. Goalkeeper Park Sae-young, prolific scorer Lee Yeon-kyung and captain Kwon Han-na form the core, supported by seasoned forward Ryu Eun-hee and other proven players such as Jo Eun-bin and Woo Bit-na. Coach Lee Gye-cheong plans to balance the veterans' tactical acumen with the youthful squad's speed, training them in morning fitness sessions and afternoon tactical drills at the Jincheon camp in Chungcheongbuk-do.
The team opens against Hong Kong on one outlet and faces host Japan on the 27th, a clash viewed as the likely gold-medal decider. Players stressed teamwork, with Park noting the importance of defensive coordination and Lee Yeon-kyung aiming to play intelligently after recovering from a knee injury earlier in the year. Commentary suggests that if the younger, less-scouted players can surprise opponents, South Korea could secure the top podium spot.
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