(Asiad) S. Korea beats Malaysia to begin women's basketball tournament
NAGOYA, Japan, Sept. 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korea overcame early shooting woes to defeat Malaysia 106-40 to start its women's basketball competition at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan on Friday.
Guard Lee So-hee led all players with 21 points and four steals, while forward Choi I-saem contributed 19 points and seven rebounds in the team's first Group C game at Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, central Japan. Six South Korean players scored in double figures.
South Korea will next play Mongolia at 1 p.m. Monday and then Chinese Taipei at 4 p.m. Tuesday. All basketball games during the Asian Games will be played at Aichi International Arena.
Lee Hae-ran of South Korea (R) tries to drive past Trixie Teo Yi Hao of Malaysia during the teams' Group C game of the women's basketball tournament at the Asian Games at Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, Japan, on Sept. 18, 2026. (Yonhap)
Coached by Park Soo-ho, South Korea is trying to improve on the bronze medal it won at the 2023 Asiad. In 2018, the joint South Korea-North Korea team grabbed silver behind China.
South Korea's last gold in women's hoops came in 2014 on its home soil of Incheon.
Choi I-saem of South Korea (C) takes a shot between two Malaysian players during the teams' Group C game of the women's basketball tournament at the Asian Games at Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, Japan, on Sept. 18, 2026. (Yonhap)
South Korea is carrying 11 players in Nagoya, one fewer than the maximum, after its star center Park Ji-su was ruled out with an ankle injury on Monday and the national federation chose not to name her replacement.
Coach Park is also without guard Park Ji-hyun, the only South Korean player currently in the Women's National Basketball Association. The 26-year-old player is in the middle of her first season with the Los Angeles Sparks.
Lee So-hee of South Korea (R) makes a pass in front of Foo Suet Ying of Malaysia during the teams' Group C game of the women's basketball tournament at the Asian Games at Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, Japan, on Sept. 18, 2026. (Yonhap)
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