The Korean women's volleyball team, ranked 28th by the International Volleyball Federation, is set to seek redemption at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games after a disappointing performance three years ago in Hangzhou.
Under the guidance of head coach Cha Sang-hyun, Korea will open its Group D campaign on September 16 at 4 p.m. against Hong Kong, ranked 127th, at the Komaki Park Arena in Aichi Prefecture. The team will then face Qatar (107th) on September 17 at 1 p.m. and Vietnam (32nd) on September 18 at 4 p.m.
A total of 14 teams are competing in the women's volleyball event, divided into four groups of three to four teams each. The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals.
Korea's goal for this tournament is to win the gold medal. The last time the team secured a gold in women's volleyball at the Asian Games was in 2014 in Incheon. The last medal of any kind was a bronze at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Games.
Performing well in the group stage is crucial for Korea's chances. If they finish second in their group, they will likely face the first-place team from another group, which is expected to be China, currently ranked 7th by the FIVB, 21 spots ahead of Korea.
The pivotal match will be against Vietnam on September 18, which will essentially determine the group winner.
Vietnam is the team that dealt Korea a painful defeat at the last Hangzhou Games. In the 2022 Hangzhou tournament, Korea lost to Vietnam in their opening match, failing to reach the semifinals and finishing in fifth place. This marked Korea's second-ever no-medal finish at the Asian Games, the first being in Doha in 2006.
The team is determined to avenge that loss to Vietnam. Captain Kang So-hwi, who plays for Korea Expressway Corporation, stated before departing from Incheon International Airport on September 13, "I can never forget the humiliation of losing to Vietnam. This time, we will definitely seek revenge."
Korea has a favorable recent record against Vietnam, having won both encounters earlier this year.
Coach Cha noted, "The first major challenge of this tournament is the group match against Vietnam. We have won both matches against them this year, so we will prepare thoroughly to ensure victory."
Korea's recent performance has shown improvement. After struggling last year and failing to remain in the Volleyball Nations League (VNL), the team rebounded by winning the AVC Cup in June, defeating Taiwan 3-0 in the final and finishing the tournament with a perfect record. This success also improved their world ranking from 40th to 31st, securing a spot in next year's FIVB World Cup.
However, they have struggled against top-tier teams. In the East Asian Championships, they finished third after losing to Japan, and at the Asian Championships in August, they were eliminated in the quarterfinals by Thailand, finishing sixth.
For Korea to contend for a medal in this tournament, the performance of star player Kang So-hwi, who is returning from injury, will be vital. Kang missed the East Asian Championships due to a left thigh muscle tear. Although she returned for the Asian Championships, her attack success rate was only 20.8% against Japan in the group stage and 14.71% in the quarterfinals against Thailand, falling short of her usual performance.
Kang expressed optimism, saying, "My physical condition has improved significantly. We have had disappointing results in international competitions, but this time I want to achieve a good outcome."
There will also be changes in the middle blocker position. Jeong Ho-young will fill the spot left by Lee Joo-ah, who is sidelined with a shoulder injury.
Coach Cha commented, "Jeong Ho-young is in good condition, and since she has spent considerable time training with the setters, we have no issues with team cohesion."
The women's volleyball medal matches are scheduled for September 22.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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