Samcheok City Hall players at the heart of South Korea's Asian Games handball gold

South Korea's women's handball team claimed gold at the Asian Games on Sunday, defeating host nation Japan 27-23 in the final at Inazawa Entrio in Aichi Prefecture to finish the tournament with a perfect 6-0 record.

Players from the Samcheok City Hall women's handball team played a central role in the gold-medal run, drawing widespread acclaim from fans across the country.

The victory avenged a loss to Japan four years ago and marked the revival of "Woori Saengae Choego-ui Sungan" — "The Best Moment of Our Lives" — the spirit that once defined Korean women's handball, with Samcheok at the core of the golden charge.

Head coach Lee Gye-cheong, who has led the Samcheok City Hall women's handball team since 2003, guided the national team at the Games alongside five of his club players — goalkeeper Park Sae-young, Lee Yeon-gyeong, Kim Bo-eun, Jeon Ji-yeon and Kim Min-seo — as the group combined to deliver the gold medal.

Goalkeeper Park was particularly decisive in the final against Japan, making key saves at critical moments to underpin the victory, while Kim Bo-eun contributed to the attack with drives and goals in the early stages of the match.

Kim Min-seo, the youngest member of the squad, also made her mark, scoring at key moments in the second half with bold, aggressive play that helped seal the gold-medal contest.

Jeon Ji-yeon showcased her energetic style throughout the tournament, including eight goals against Hong Kong in the early rounds, while veteran Lee Yeon-gyeong provided composure and stability in the team's most important matches.

Coach Lee blended experience and youth effectively, building the team around strong defense and quick transitions. He drew on the know-how of veteran players in key matches against China and Japan while giving younger players ample court time, guiding the side to a flawless six-win campaign.

The performances of the Samcheok City Hall players at these Asian Games again demonstrated the club's standing in Korean women's handball. The team has long been regarded as one of the sport's powerhouses domestically and has consistently produced national team players, contributing to the broader development of women's handball in South Korea.

The title marks South Korea's first Asian Games handball gold in eight years, since the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Games, and the country's eighth gold medal in the event all time.

The triumph carried added significance given that South Korea had finished with silver at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games after losing the final to Japan by 10 points. Winning on Japanese soil made the comeback all the more meaningful as South Korea reclaimed the top spot in Asia.

Samcheok city plans to celebrate the gold medal together with its citizens and will continue to support the Samcheok City Hall women's handball team so that the players can perform at their best as representatives of the region.