The Korean baseball team, which achieved the feat of winning 4 consecutive games at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, made a ‘golden return’.
The Korean baseball team, led by coach Ryu Joong-il, returned to Korea through Incheon Airport on the afternoon of the 8th.
On this day, the men’s soccer team, which won its third consecutive Asian Games title, returned home on the same flight, creating a crowded atmosphere with fans gathered to watch the baseball and soccer teams.
The baseball team won its fourth consecutive Asian Games title with a gold medal in this tournament. Following the Guangzhou competitions in 2010, Incheon in 2014, and Jakarta and Palembang in 2018, it once again maintained its place at the top of Asia.
This is an achievement achieved by forming a national team with young players.
There is no age limit for baseball at the Asian Games, but after winning a gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang, the backlash due to military service benefits intensified, so this time, they set their own age limit.
It was limited to players under the age of 24 and in their 3rd year of professional debut, but as the competition was postponed for a year due to COVID-19, the criteria was revised to players under 25 years of age and in their 4th year of professional debut. Regardless of the criteria, only three people can be selected as wild cards, and this is also limited to those under the age of 29.
Considering that the professional baseball regular season proceeds normally during the competition period, each team was limited to a maximum of three starters.
There were significant concerns as the national team was formed under various restrictions. There was also an evaluation that they were the weakest among the Asian Games national team in terms of pitching overall.
In addition, Koo Chang-mo (NC Dinos) and Lee Jeong-hoo (Kiwoom Heroes), who were expected to be two-hit mainstays ahead of the tournament, fell off the horse due to injury. Lee Ui-ri (KIA Tigers) also withdrew from the national team amid controversy.
To make matters worse, Kwak Bin (Doosan Bears), who was supposed to be the starter in major games, suddenly showed symptoms of phlegm before the start of the game, making it difficult for him to participate in the game.
Concerns seemed to become reality as the national team lost 0-4 in the second group match against Chinese Taipei on the 2nd, which was thought to be a turning point in winning the gold medal.
However, the national team, which entered the super round with one loss, took a breather by beating Japan 2-0 on the 5th. On the same day, Taiwan beat China 4-1, so Korea could advance to the finals if it beat China.
Korea defeated China 8-1 in the final match of the super round held on the 6th and won a ticket to the finals.
In the finals, they faced difficult enemy Taiwan again, but Korea did not fall twice.
After starter Moon Dong-ju (Hanwha Eagles) pitched 6 innings with 7 strikeouts and no runs, the team of Choi Ji-min (KIA Tigers), Park Young-hyun (KT Wiz), and Ko Woo-seok (LG Twins) each pitched 1 inning without allowing a run, winning 2-0. I held the gold medal in my arms.먹튀검증
Immediately after returning to Korea, coach Ryu Joong-il of the national baseball team said, “I won the gold medal with such difficulty. I was sore.” He added, “I am so thrilled because it was so hard to win. There were some who said that my strength was weak due to the age limit, and there were many worries about whether I would actually be able to win the gold medal. “I was able to win the gold medal because the players played well,” he said.
When asked to choose the best player (MVP), Coach Ryu chose captain Kim Hye-seong (Kiwoom Heroes) and finals starting pitcher Moon Dong-ju, saying, “Kim Hye-seong did not play well in the finals, but played well in the group stage. Moon Dong-ju played the role of ace instead of Kwak Bin. “I think Moon Dong-ju would have become a pitcher at an even higher level,” he emphasized.
Meanwhile, the baseball team that was convened while the KBO League was in progress is scheduled to disband on this day and return to their respective teams. As early as the 9th, we can meet the players who became ‘gold medalists’ again in the KBO League.
