The South Korean women’s handball national team defeated Vietnam 46-18 at the 20th Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Oct. 26, securing a spot in the tournament’s final match for the gold medal. Coached by Lee Gye-chung, South Korea finished the group stage with a 5-0 record and 10 points, claiming the top spot in the standings at the Entrio Arena in Inazawa, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, according to MK Sports.
South Korea Dominates Vietnam in Rout
First-Half Pressing Establishes Massive Lead
South Korea established an early advantage through aggressive pressing and fast breaks. Jeon Ji-yeon opened the scoring with consecutive goals, followed by contributions from Lee Hye-won, Kwon Han-na, and Lee Won-jeong, giving the team a 5-1 lead within the first eight minutes.
Nguyen Anh provided a brief response for Vietnam with a mid-range shot, but South Korea maintained offensive pressure. Jeon Ji-yeon and Lee Hye-won attacked the flanks and center, while Cha Seo-yeon and Kim So-ra expanded the scoring margins to bring the score to 21-7 by the 26th minute. South Korea ended the first half leading 22-9.
Second-Half Substitutes Extend the Margin
The second half followed a similar pattern, with substitutes Cho Eun-bin and Kim Min-ser adding to the goal tally. In the 39th minute, Kim Min-ser, Woo Bit-na, and Cho Eun-bin combined for a sequence that stretched the lead to 28-13.
A six-goal run starting in the 44th minute by Cha Seo-yeon, Lee Hye-won, and Cho Eun-bin pushed the score to 36-15 by the 48th minute, effectively deciding the match. Late goals from Cho Eun-bin, Lee Won-jeong, Kim Min-ser, and Cha Seo-yeon brought the final score to 46-18.
Standout Performances Propel the Attack
Cho Eun-bin led the South Korean offense by converting all eight of her shots into goals. Cha Seo-yeon and Lee Hye-won each scored seven goals, Jeon Ji-yeon added six, and Kim Min-ser contributed five. Goalkeepers Park Sae-young and Jung Jin-hee combined for 19 saves, with Park recording 10 and Jung notching nine. For Vietnam, Nguyen Anh scored 10 goals.
Gold Medal Showdown Set Against Japan
With the group stage concluded, South Korea and Japan both finished with 5 wins to set up the gold medal match. The two teams will meet on Oct. 27 at 6 p.m. at the same venue. China finished the group stage with a 3-2 record to secure the third-place bronze medal position.
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