South Korea Break Japan Hearts to Win Asian Games Basketball Gold
Lee Hyun-jun scored 27 points as South Korea earned its first Asian Games basketball gold since 2014.
- On Sunday, South Korea defeated Japan 67-57 in the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games final to claim men's basketball gold, securing their fourth Asian Games title.
- This victory marked South Korea's first gold since Incheon in 2014, while Japan matched its best previous finish of silver, achieved in 1951 and 1962.
- Lee Hyun-jun top-scored for South Korea with 27 points, helping the Koreans break a 28-28 halftime tie and surge to a 55-47 lead in the third quarter.
- Ren Kanechika, who led Japan with 13 points, said, "I'm disappointed because we were aiming to win gold," as players celebrated with Latvian coach Nikolajs Mazurs.
- In the bronze medal match, Iran defeated China 79-70, with power forward Arsalan Kazemi stating, "I put our hearts out on the court today just to get this win.
12 Articles
12 Articles
China misses b-ball podium, South Korea takes gold
South Korea held off Japan 67-57 to win the men's basketball final at the 2026 Asian Games on Sunday, while China finished fourth after losing 79-70 to Iran in the bronze-medal match. Japan built a 16-12 advantage in the first quarter, but South Korea opened the second quarter with an 8-4 run to pull level, leaving the two sides deadlocked at 28 apiece at halftime. South Korea seized control in the third quarter with a 17-8 surge, carrying an ei…
Radio France Internationale
France24South Korea break Japan hearts to win Asian Games basketball gold
Lee Hyun-jun top-scored for the Koreans with 27 points, including five three-pointers, in a scrappy victory helped by some wayward Japan shooting. "I'm unbelievably happy," Lee said. "More than anything I'm extremely grateful to my teammates." There was a raucous atmosphere at a packed IG Arena where every Japan score threatened to raise the roof and every South Korean free-throw attempt was barracked, despite a good contingent of away fans. "We…
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