One-sided cheerleading leads to 30-23 win over China
Final tomorrow at 6 p.m. against Japan
FLYING LIKE A BUTTERFLY
The South Korean women’s handball team advanced to the final with a 30-23 win over China in
the Hangzhou Asian Games semifinals on Wednesday. South Korea, which is seeking its third
straight title, will play Japan for gold on Friday.
South Korea’s women’s handball team is one win away from a third consecutive Asian Games title.
South Korea advanced to the final with a 30-23 win over China in the women’s handball
semifinals at the Hangzhou Asian Games on Wednesday. South Korea will play Japan for the
gold medal at 6 p.m. on Friday. Japan defeated Kazakhstan 40-22 in the semifinals on Wednesday.
In the semifinals, South Korea struggled early against host China.
The Chinese, cheered on by more than 3,000 Anbang fans in the stadium, used a fast-paced
offense to put pressure on Korea. Korea ended the first half with a one-point lead, 15-14. It was
an uneasy lead. Korea kept the lead within three points until 14 minutes into the second half,
when Kim Sun-hwa, Ryu Eun-hee, Kim Min-seo, and Kang Eun-hye scored consecutive points to
extend the lead to nine points (28-19). Right back Ryu Eun-hee scored a team-high seven points
to lead Korea to the final. She was followed by Lee Im-kyung with six and Kang Kyung-min with
five. The win extended South Korea’s unbeaten streak to 21 games against China. The last time
Korea Women’s Handball lost to China was in the semifinals of the 2004 Asian Championship in Hiroshima (25-26).
South Korea has been dominant against its final opponent, Japan. Korean women’s handball has won 12 consecutive matches against Japan. The last time South Korea lost to Japan was in the semifinals of the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games. However, Japan, which has undergone a generational change in preparation for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, has closed the gap on South Korea. South Korea defeated Japan 34-29 in overtime in the Asian Championship final last December, and the Japanese won by one point, 25-24, in the Asian qualifier for the Paris Olympics last month in Hiroshima, Japan.
“Japan is a good team, so we have to play well both offensively and defensively,” said Korean women’s head coach Henrique Signel. The final will be a close match.” 스포츠토토링크