South Korea's women's sepak takraw secures first Asian Games doubles medal in 16 years, advances to semifinals

South Korea's women's sepak takraw team has secured a medal at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games doubles event — the country's first in the discipline in 16 years.

South Korea swept India and host Japan 2-0 in sets Sunday in Group B of the women's doubles preliminary round at Mizuho Park Gymnasium in Nagoya, Japan.

The two wins put South Korea level with the Philippines at the top of the group, with both teams guaranteed at least second place. Regardless of the outcome of their head-to-head clash Monday, the top two teams advance to the semifinals — meaning South Korea's berth is already secured.

In sepak takraw, no bronze-medal match is held; both teams eliminated in the semifinals automatically receive bronze. South Korea has therefore already clinched at least a bronze medal — its second of the tournament, following a silver in the women's team regu event.

It is South Korea's first Asian Games medal in the women's doubles since the bronze at the 2010 Guangzhou Games.

South Korea got off to a smooth start in its first match of the day. Striker Han Ye-ji and feeder Lee Min-ju, both of Busan Environment Corporation, took the opening set against India 15-8.

Striker Kim Se-young of South Chungcheong Province Sports Council came in for the second set and closed out the match with a dominant 15-3 win.

The afternoon match against Japan also wrapped up in two sets. South Korea edged a tight first set 15-13, then pulled away to win the second 15-7, completing a two-match sweep.

South Korea faces the Philippines at 9 a.m. Monday in the group's final preliminary match — in effect a battle for the top seed in Group B. The team then returns to the court at 2 p.m. the same day for the semifinals, where it will bid for a place in the final. Han, Lee and Kim, who earlier won silver in the women's team regu, will be competing for a second medal of a different color at these Games.

Meanwhile, the men's team regu squad was eliminated from semifinal contention after losing to Indonesia on Wednesday in its final group-stage match, finishing with a 1-2 record and third place in its group.