The Asian Games soccer team, led by Hwang Sun-hong (55), is off to a strong start in its quest for a third straight title.
South Korea opens its Group E campaign at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games at 8:30 p.m. on Aug. 19 at Jinhua Stadium in Zhejiang province, China, against Kuwait, the “reigning champions of the Middle East. After winning back-to-back gold medals at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games and 2018 Jakarta-Palembang, Korean football will be looking to win its first three consecutive titles at the Games.
At the Hangzhou Asian Games, Korea aimed to win more than 50 gold medals and finish third overall. Korea’s first match across all sports at the Games will be against Kuwait. The Hangzhou Asian Games will kick off on the 23rd, but some sports, such as soccer and volleyball, will begin their preliminary rounds before then. The 23 nations will compete in six groups. The 12 first- and second-place finishers and the four best third-place finishers from each group will advance to the round of 16 tournament. South Korea is in Group E alongside Kuwait-Thailand (Nov. 21) and Bahrain (Nov. 24).
Goalkeeper Lee Kwang-yeon (24-Gangwon FC) will serve as Korea’s “rear commander. Attacking ace Lee Kang-in (22) will join the team on the 21st after playing for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). There are no star goalkeepers like Son Heung-min (Tottenham), Hwang Eui-jo (Norwich City), or Lee Seung-woo (Suwon FC), as there were in the Jakarta-Palembang tournament four years ago. Given the situation, some experts are predicting a one-goal game. “Coach Hwang said, ‘Relax and be confident,'” says Lee Kwang-yeon. I’ll try to shake off the pressure and block the Middle Eastern sandy winds,” said Lee.
For goalkeepers, experience is just as important as physical ability. Unlike field players, who usually retire in their mid-30s, there are a few goalkeepers who are still playing well into their late 30s. At the Jakarta-Palembang tournament, veteran goalkeeper Cho Hyun-woo (Ulsan Hyundai) was selected as a wild card (over 24 years old at the time) to guard the Korean goal.
Lee Kwang-yeon may be 24, but he’s no stranger to big tournaments. He led South Korea to a runner-up finish at the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup alongside Lee Kang-in. He played full-time in every game (seven matches, eight goals). Fans nicknamed him “Light Kwang-yeon” for the way he threw himself to block an opponent’s angry shot after the final whistle.
Coach Hwang Sun-hong said, “You can’t ignore big game experience,” and entrusted Lee Kwang-yeon with the starting goalkeeping duties. Lee Kwang-yeon said, “I’ve experienced three- or four-goal battles in age-group international competitions, and I’ve grown up experiencing one-goal games with sweaty hands. My mental strength has always been strong, and I’m confident that my judgment is as good as the veteran seniors.”온라인바카라
He is 1.84 meters tall, which is small for a goalkeeper. However, he overcomes this disadvantage with his quick reaction time. This is thanks to the 200 push-ups he did every day since he was in school and the one-and-a-half hours of weight training he did to develop his upper and lower body strength. His muscular physique is intimidating to opponents. He also has good elasticity, which allows him to react half a beat faster to shots from opposing attackers.
“I’m strong in tournaments,” says Lee. I’ve never lost in a penalty shootout. I have a ‘gut feeling’ about which way to run,” she said. “I took a break last year due to an ACL injury, but the Asian Games were postponed by the heavens for a year. I have a great opportunity and I will try to score zero goals.” “From the day I was selected to represent Korea at the Asian Games until now, I’ve only been thinking about gold,” he said, adding, “I’m going to win my third consecutive Asian Games with Kang In-soo.”