The Asian Games national team led by coach Hwang Seon-hong achieved a 2-1 comeback win against Japan in the men's soccer final of the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games held at the Huanglong Sports Center Stadium in Hangzhou, China on the 7th (Korean time). They conceded the first goal just two minutes into the game, but goals from Jung Woo-young in the first half and Cho Young-wook in the second half earned them the gold medal.
With this victory, the national team became the first team in history to win the event three times in a row, following the 2014 Incheon and 2018 Jakarta and Palembang competitions. Previously, they had tied with Taiwan, Myanmar, and Iran for two consecutive wins, but they made history with this win.
Athletes also enjoyed the joy of being exempted from military service. This benefit is given to athletes who have won at least a bronze medal in the Olym
Lee Kang-in, who moved to Spain at a young age and grew up in Valencia, Spain, is currently playing for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), the strongest team in France. His talent has been recognized enough for PSG to pay a buyout amount and take him. By winning this Asian Games, he was exempted from military service, setting the stage for him to leap to greater heights.
Lee Kang-in, who met with reporters in the mixed zone (joint coverage area) after the game, said, "My goal was to win, and I am so happy that I was able to win like this." He added, "My teammates, coaching staff, people who supported me a lot in Korea, and Korea that came all the way to Hangzhou." “I am so grateful to the fans,” he said first.
He continued, “I’m so happy to win. It will be a very special and good memory for me because it is my first time representing the country of Korea.
Unlike other players, Lee Kang-in joined after the competition began. He only joined on the 21st of last month, when the second match of the group stage took place, and began playing before Bahrain in the third match.
Lee Kang-in said, "It was such a good memory and a good experience. I felt and experienced every moment. I think I have learned a lot not only as a soccer player, but also as a person," and added, "I think this moment is the most memorable." I looked back.
He revealed that the main reason he was able to win despite a lot of criticism before the competition was the strong trust between the players and the coach.
Lee Kang-in said, "I am very grateful to coach Hwang Seon-hong. Even before I started, the media was very bad and I received criticism from many people. However, he always believed in the players, and the players always believed in the coach," and added, "We will continue to have better and more competitions in the future." “I hope you win,” he said.
He continued, "There was a very good atmosphere while preparing for this tournament. Even before I was called up to the team, I heard a lot of people saying that they were doing really well as a team. The players really trusted the coaching staff, and the coaching staff also took good care of the players. “I believed in it. I think we came together well as a team,” he added.
Coach Hwang Seon-hong's next goal is the 2024 Paris Olympics. Coincidentally, Lee Kang-in is also playing for Paris Saint-Germain, which is based in Paris. However, Lee Kang-in wanted to enjoy the moment of his victory a little more. Lee Kang-in said, "The Asian Games have barely finished, but I wonder if I'll ever think about the Olympics." He said, "Right now, all I want to do is enjoy it."