"Sweeping Three of Four Gold Medals"—Korean Basketball Overwhelms China and Japan, Writing a Brilliant History to Be Talked About for the Next 100 Years [Nagoya Asian Games]

[Financial News]  The most brilliant golden age in the 100-year history of Korean basketball has begun. At the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, the Republic of Korea's men's and women's national teams and its 3x3 teams displayed overwhelming performances and stood together atop Asia. By sweeping three of the four gold medals available in basketball at the Games, Korean basketball established itself as the event's most dominant "MVP sport."
The men's national team was the first to deliver golden news. Led by head coach Nikolaïs Mazulis, the team crushed host Japan 67-57 in the 5-on-5 final on the 20th, reclaiming the gold medal for the first time in 12 years since the 2014 Incheon Games. Ace Lee Hyun-jung was particularly outstanding, neutralizing Japan's pressure with a spectacular double-double of 27 points and 18 rebounds. The victory also gave Republic of Korea men's basketball a rare record: its first gold medal on foreign soil in 44 years, since the 1982 New Delhi Games.

The men's momentum quickly carried over to the younger players. On the 25th, the Republic of Korea's men's 3x3 national team, led by head coach Bae Gil-tae, defeated the tall Qatar lineup 19-10 in the final to win the country's first-ever 3x3 gold medal. Composed of young university players including Lee Ju-young, Kim Seung-woo, Lee Dong-geun and Koo Min-kyo, the team perfectly exploited Qatar's size with its speed and outside shooting. The gold medal also carried symbolic significance as the 800th gold medal won by the Republic of Korea delegation overall at the Games.

The women's 5-on-5 national team provided the crowning moment in Korean basketball's double celebration. Led by head coach Park Su-ho, the team reclaimed the top spot with a 75-70 victory over host Japan in a nail-biting final on the 26th. After dramatically defeating China in the semifinals despite its 220-centimeter center, the women's team also held off Japan's relentless comeback in the final, thanks to Kang Lee-seul's clutch free throws and Lee Hae-ran's outstanding 24-point performance. The victory brought the women's team its first gold medal in 12 years and ended a 32-year wait for an away title since the 1994 Hiroshima Games.
At these Games, Korean basketball achieved a remarkable result that was virtually an overall championship: titles for both the men's and women's 5-on-5 teams, a men's 3x3 title and a women's 3x3 bronze medal. Completely dispelling widespread concerns that it had fallen into a slump, Republic of Korea basketball regained its status as Asia's strongest. Its 2026 Nagoya story will go down as one of the greatest moments in the history of Korean sports.
[email protected] Jeon Sang-il Reporter