Korea beats Japan for first Asian Games handball gold in 8 years

South Korea returned to the top of Asian women’s handball Sunday, defeating Japan 27-23 to win its first Asian Games gold medal in eight years.

Korea completed the tournament with a perfect 6-0 record under head coach Lee Kye-chung, securing its eighth Asian Games title at Entrio in Inazawa, Aichi prefecture.

The victory also gave Korea a measure of redemption after its 29-19 loss to Japan in the final of the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games.

Korea took control early with aggressive defense, disrupting Japan’s attack and building a 16-12 lead by halftime.

Veterans Ryu Eun-hee and Kwon Han-na led the offense in the opening half, combining for nine goals. Ryu, a four-time Olympian who has played professionally in France and Hungary, finished with five goals, while Kwon added four.

Japan cut the deficit to 21-18 in the second half and gained a numerical advantage when Ryu received a two-minute suspension. Goalkeeper Park Sae-young helped Korea get through the stretch without conceding before Korea regained control.

Jeong Jin-hui stopped a Japanese penalty shot before Jeon Ji-yeon and Kim Bo-eun scored at the other end, pushing the lead back to 23-18 with 10 minutes remaining.

Japan made one last push to pull within two at 24-22, but Park came up with another key save before captain Kwon scored with about three minutes left to seal the victory.

Park finished with 12 saves and a 41 percent save rate, anchoring a Korean defense that repeatedly denied Japan at crucial moments.

After the final whistle, the Korean players gathered in a circle on the court and celebrated with the national flag, marking the country’s first women’s handball gold since the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games.