South Korea swept gold medals in men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, and men’s football against host nation Japan at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, according to reports. The sweep across major team sports overcame the host’s home advantage, with additional success in women’s handball rounding out a dominant multi-sport performance.
Basketball Teams Claim Double Gold After 12-Year Drought
The South Korean men’s basketball team defeated Japan 67-57 in the final held on September 20, 2026, at the Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, Japan, according to tournament records. Lee Hyun-jung scored 27 points to lead the team to its first gold medal in the event in 12 years. South Korea previously defeated Japan 100-83 in the group stage.
The women’s basketball team followed suit on September 26 by defeating Japan 75-70 in their final match to capture their first title in 12 years. The victories marked the first time South Korea achieved a combined men’s and women’s basketball sweep at the Asian Games since the 2014 Incheon tournament.
Baseball and Handball Secure Titles on the Final Stretch
The South Korean baseball team secured its fifth Asian Games gold medal by defeating Japan 3-1 on September 27, avenging an earlier 5-0 Super Round loss. Starting pitcher Kwak Bin pitched six and one-third innings, allowing one run while striking out nine batters to anchor the victory.
On the same day, the South Korean women’s handball team claimed the gold medal by defeating Japan 27-23 in their final round-robin match. The win left South Korea undefeated with a 6-0 record, relegating Japan to the silver medal with a 5-1 finish and returning the South Korean women to the top of the podium for the first time in eight years.
Football Squad Extends Regional Dominance
The South Korean under-23 men’s football team secured a 1-0 victory over Japan in the final match on October 3, courtesy of a winning goal by Um Ji-sung. The result marked the third final in which South Korea defeated Japan for the title, extending the program’s gold medal streak in the event to four tournaments.
While team sports yielded extensive success across the delegation, South Korea’s participation in the four major sports saw a stark contrast in volleyball. Both the men’s and women’s national volleyball teams finished without medals, with the men placing seventh and the women finishing fourth in their respective tournaments.
