(2nd LD) (Asiad) S. Korea wins gold in men's kayak four-person 500m racing at Asian Games
NAGOYA, Japan, Sept. 24 (Yonhap) -- South Korea won the gold medal in the men's kayak four 500-meter race at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Thursday, bringing home the country's first gold in canoe sprint at the competition.
The team of Cho Gwang-hee, Kim Hyo-bin, Jang Sang-won and Choi Min-kyu finished the race in 1:22.587 in the final of the men's kayak four 500m event at Miyoshi Lake Canoe Course in Miyoshi, just east of the main host city of Nagoya.
South Korean players celebrate their gold medal during a medal ceremony after winning the men's kayak four 500-meter event at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at Miyoshi Lake Canoe Course in Miyoshi, just east of the main host city of Nagoya, on Sept. 24, 2026, in this Xinhua photo. (Yonhap)
It was South Korea's first gold medal in canoe sprint and ninth overall at this year's Asian Games, which officially began Saturday.
It was also the first time South Korea had won the men's kayak four 500m event at the quadrennial continental multisport competition. The country had previously collected two silver medals in the event.
South Korea edged out China by 0.255 second, with Japan finishing 3.322 seconds behind the champions.
The South Korean quartet crossed the 250-meter mark in 40.44 seconds to take the lead. They battled neck and neck with China through the rest of the race but held onto the lead through the finish.
In Heat 2, held the previous day, South Korea finished first in 1:25.383 to advance to the final.
Canoe sport comprises two disciplines -- canoe sprint and canoe slalom -- with kayak events contested in both.
For Cho, one of South Korea's most prominent paddlers, Thursday's gold was his third gold medal in three Asian Games appearances.
Cho has made his presence felt in the men's kayak singles 200m event, winning gold at the 2014 and 2018 Asian Games. He also competed at the 2016 and 2020 Olympics.
As the men's kayak singles 200m event was excluded from the official medal competition at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, he switched to the men's kayak four 500m event for the 2022 Games and made history Thursday.
After winning silver medals at the 2018 and 2022 Asian Games, Cho rose to the top of the podium in 2026.
Cho will compete in the men's kayak double 500m event the following day, seeking his fourth Asian Games gold medal.
South Korean players celebrate their victory after winning the men's kayak four 500-meter event at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at Miyoshi Lake Canoe Course in Miyoshi, just east of the main host city of Nagoya, on Sept. 24, 2026, in this Xinhua photo. (Yonhap)
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