South Korea in 3rd at Asian Games medal count

by Lee Hugh Posted : September 22, 2026, 10:25Updated : September 22, 2026, 11:08
South Korean baseballers competing at the Asian Games in Japan are seen in this grab from the Korea Baseball Organization KBOs YouTube channel
South Korean baseballers competing at the Asian Games in Japan are seen, in this grab from the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO)'s YouTube channel.
SEOUL, September 22 (AJP) - With this year's Asian Games in Japan heating up since its opening last Saturday, South Korean athletes are looking to add to their medal haul on Tuesday, with baseball, football, fencing and swimming among the day's highlights.

South Korean baseballers, led by manager Ryu Ji-hyun, will face Hong Kong at 6:30 p.m. at Toyohashi Municipal Baseball Stadium in Aichi.

South Korea defeated Chinese Taipei 5-0 in its opener the previous day, powered by a strong performance from pitcher Kwak Bin, who allowed no hits and no runs. The country hopes to build on that momentum against Hong Kong.
 
South Korean footballers pose for a group photo ahead of an opening match against Qatar at the Asian Games in Japan on Sept 15 2026 Courtesy of the Korea Football Association KFA
South Korean footballers pose for a group photo ahead of an opening match against Qatar at the Asian Games in Japan on Sept. 15, 2026. Courtesy of the Korea Football Association (KFA)
In football, South Korea, which has already secured a berth in the quarterfinals after beating Qatar in its opening match last week, will take on Saudi Arabia at 7 p.m. at Paloma Mizuho Park Rugby Stadium in Nagoya in its final group-stage match.

South Korea needs to win the match if it wants to avoid or meet tough teams like Uzbekistan or Japan as late as possible in the tournament on its way to an unprecedented fourth consecutive title in the quadrennial sporting event.

Fencing is also drawing attention, with Song Se-ra competing in the women's épée individual event at Aichi Sky Expo in Tokoname. Ranked No. 3 in the world in women's épée and the highest-ranked Asian athlete in the discipline, Song will seek her first individual gold medal at a major international multi-sport competition.

Table tennis duo Shin Yu-bin and Lim Jong-hoon are also set to begin their bid for gold in the mixed doubles event at Sky Hall Toyota in Aichi.

A slew of South Korean swimmers are also competing, with particular attention given to Kim Woo-min in the men's 1,500-meter freestyle final.

As of Tuesday, South Korea is ranked third in the overall medal tally with five gold, three silver, and 15 bronze medals, trailing China, which won 23 gold, 10 silver, and five bronze medals to top the rankings, and Japan in second after winning eight gold, 12 silver, and 12 bronze medals.

AJP Takeaways

- South Korea ranks third in the medal table at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, as of Sept. 22, 2026, with 5 gold, 3 silver, and 15 bronze medals, trailing China (23-10-5) and Japan (8-12-12).

- South Korea's baseball team, after a 5-0 no-hit win over Chinese Taipei on September 21, 2026, faces Hong Kong on Sept. 22, 2026, in Aichi.

- South Korea's football team, already through to the quarterfinals, plays Saudi Arabia on Sept. 22, 2026, in Nagoya as it pursues a fourth straight Asian Games title.