Korean rugby competing against Hong Kong and Japan…
Aim for AG gold medal for the first time in 21 years
Jang Yong-heung, who remembers 5 years ago, “Hong Kong is a strong enemy, but our goal is a gold medal” Coach Lee Myeong-geun, who can’t forget the ‘pain of Doha’,
“Korea is strong in the Asian Games from generation to generation” Korea came down from the position of Asia’s ‘rugby powerhouse’ someday.
Japan is currently the strongest in Asia.
It has raised its status beyond Asia to a level that will not be pushed back on the world stage.
World Rugby
The World Rugby (WR) ranking, which administers 7, 10, and 15-person rugby, also maintains the top 10, and also reached the quarterfinals in the 2019 World Cup held in their country.
However, Hong Kong is considered the most threatening team in the Hangzhou Asian Games.
Japan is focusing on the 2023 WR 15-man World Cup, 토토사이트 which starts on the 8th of next month and runs until the end of October.
It is not easy to pack 100% power for the 7-man Asian Games held during this period.
On the other hand, Hong Kong is likely to mobilize British players who have a stronger physique than Asian players.
Olympic Council of Asia
A number of athletes who meet the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) rule that “naturalized athletes must reside in the country for at least three years after naturalization” can show off their dignity in Hangzhou.
Hong Kong was the winning team in both the 7 and 15-man Asian Rugby Championships last year.
Jang Yong-heung
Nonetheless, Jang Yong-heung (KEPCO), the main player of the Korean rugby team, is not particularly afraid of Hong Kong.
Jang Yong-heung met with Yonhap News at the Ibis Styles Ambassador Hotel in Incheon on the afternoon of the 25th and said, “Hong Kong is the biggest enemy,” but he was confident that “the goal is to win a gold medal.
Jang Yong-heung, who is 175 cm tall and weighs 80 kg, has a rather small physique for a rugby player, but has been evaluated as the best winger in Asia beyond Korea.
He became a hero in the Asian final qualifying round for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games held in Incheon in November 2019.
He took the final try at 6 minutes and 26 seconds of extra time.
Thanks to this tri, Korea was able to step on the stage of the Olympic finals 96 years after rugby was introduced to Korea in 1923.
Hong Kong was the opponent of Jang Yong-heung’s heroic performance.
Looking back at this time, Jang Yong-heung said, “That moment was really difficult.
But the ball came to me by chance and I just ran with all my might,
it turned out to be such a good scene.”
Head coach Lee Myeong-geun, who leads the national team, also wishes for a gold medal.
Asian Games
Coach Lee is the main player who won the gold medal at the 2002 Asian Games in Busan during his active career.
It is said that the pain of the 2006 Doha Games, four years later, is still unforgettable.
At the time, the national team coach Lee played for was defeated 26-27 by allowing a come-from-behind try from Yamada Akihito just before the end of the match in the final of the Doha tournament.
Korean rugby, which failed to win three consecutive games,
only won bronze medals three times in a row, behind Japan and Hong Kong.
Coach Lee said, “We will compete with Hong Kong and Japan this time,
we are especially passionate about the Asian Games.
Generation after generation, our seniors have been strong in the Asian Games.”
He added, “Other unemployment teams have been very considerate, such as recruiting players.
With the hope of winning a gold medal,
each of us accepts the situation in which training becomes difficult and helps the national team.
Coach Lee
Coach Lee is leading the national team after coach Charlie Lowe, who abruptly resigned in April.
Director Lee said, “Director Lowe’s role is so great that there was no preparation (for resignation)” and “Actually, that part has been difficult.
The players and coaching staff are sharing and making up for it well.”
Competition continues to this day in this supervisory system.
Coach Lee, who deliberately chose a hot time to train in consideration of Hangzhou’s subtropical climate,
has yet to confirm the final 12-man roster.
It is the intention to force the players to compete with each other until the end.
Director Lee said, “The entry submitted on July 15 was rushed.
Since it was a situation that had to be submitted,
we selected the players who played the main role,” he said.