(Asiad) S. Korea's women's volleyball team finishes Asian Games without medal
NAGOYA, Japan, Sept. 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korean women's volleyball finished its Asian Games campaign without a medal after losing in straight sets to Thailand in the bronze medal match Tuesday.
Thailand beat South Korea 3-0 (25-20, 25-19, 25-23) in the bronze medal decider at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at Park Arena Komaki, in Komaki, just north of the host city of Nagoya.
After going undefeated in the group phase and eliminating Kazakhstan in the quarterfinals, South Korea lost to Japan in the semifinals and dropped into the bronze medal match.
As a result, South Korea failed to reach the podium for the second consecutive Asian Games after being eliminated in the quarterfinals at the previous Games.
It is the first time South Korea has missed a women's volleyball medal at two consecutive Asian Games.
South Korea failed to win a medal at the 2006 Asian Games but advanced to the final at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games.
South Korean players perform during the bronze medal match against Thailand in the women's volleyball tournament at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at Park Arena Komaki in Komaki, Japan, on Sept. 22, 2026. (Yonhap)
Captain Kang So-hwi scored 10 points and middle blocker Lee Da-hyeon added nine, but they could not help South Korea, ranked 28th in the world, overcome world No. 13 Thailand.
In the first set, South Korea took an early 8-5 lead but soon lost its rhythm after Kim Da-in was called for a net violation. Another foul call allowed Thailand to level the score at 8-8, and South Korea never led again.
The second set followed a similar pattern, with South Korea leading 11-9 before Thailand scored five straight points and kept the lead until the end of the set.
In the third set, South Korea battled closely with Thailand but surrendered the lead after giving up three straight points.
South Korea leveled the set at 22-22 but scored only one more point, while Thailand scored three to win the match.
South Korean players and coaches high-five each other after losing to Thailand during the bronze medal match in the women's volleyball tournament at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at Park Arena Komaki in Komaki, Japan, on Sept. 22, 2026. (Yonhap)
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