South Korea's men's field hockey team, seeking its first Asian Games final appearance in 20 years, stumbled at the last hurdle and dropped into the bronze medal match.
The national team, coached by Min Tae-seok, lost 1-2 to Malaysia in the men's hockey semifinal of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, played on the 1st at Kakamigahara Green Stadium in Gifu Prefecture, Japan.
With both sides still scoreless in the third quarter, South Korea conceded a penalty corner and fell behind on the opening goal. Lee Kang-san of the Incheon Metropolitan City Sports Council then struck a field goal to level the match at 1-1.
The momentum did not last. South Korea gave away a penalty stroke just before the end of the third quarter and fell behind again. The team pressed harder in the fourth quarter in search of an equalizer but could not break through the Malaysian defense before the final whistle.
The last time South Korea's men reached an Asian Games hockey final was the 2006 Doha Games, where they won gold. They have since claimed bronze at both the 2014 Incheon Games and the 2023 Hangzhou Games, holding their place among Asia's top teams.
The team will face Pakistan in the bronze medal match at the same venue at 4:30 p.m. on the 3rd, aiming to close out the tournament on a high note.
