NAGOYA, Japan — South Korean women’s volleyball captain Kang So-hwi is heading into the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games with a clear mission: win a medal for her teammates in what could be her final Asian Games appearance with the national team.
The 29-year-old outside hitter, who made her international debut in 2016, is preparing for her second Asian Games after helping South Korea claim bronze at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Games. She did not get the podium finish she wanted at the 2023 Hangzhou Games, when South Korea failed to advance to the medal round.
Now, with another Asian Games approaching, Kang says she wants to turn that disappointment into motivation.
“I want to win an Asian Games medal for my teammates,” Kang said after training in Okazaki, Japan, according to Yonhap.
A Chance at Redemption
South Korea’s women’s volleyball program has experienced a difficult period since its strong run at previous Asian Games.
The team won silver in 2010, gold in 2014 and bronze in 2018, putting together three consecutive podium finishes. But at the 2023 Hangzhou Games, South Korea lost to Vietnam in its opening preliminary match and ultimately failed to reach the medal stage—the country’s first women’s volleyball medal drought at the Asian Games since 2006.
For Kang, that setback remains a painful memory.
But she has made clear that she does not want the disappointment to define her next campaign.
“I want to overcome it and grab a medal,” she said.
Kang Leads a New Generation
Kang’s role is particularly important as South Korea continues its transition into the post-Kim Yeon-koung era.
The veteran attacker is now captain of a 12-player Asian Games roster that includes setter Kim Da-in, middle blocker Lee Da-hyun and several younger players. The squad was officially finalized by the Korea Volleyball Association earlier this month.
Head coach Cha Sang-hyun has emphasized preparation, recovery and tactical development ahead of the tournament. The team traveled to Japan on September 13 after completing its preparations in South Korea.
Kang has also been managing a left-thigh injury, although she said she was improving as the team arrived in Japan.
Vietnam Match Could Set the Tone
South Korea has been drawn into Group D alongside Hong Kong, Qatar and Vietnam.
The team’s group-stage campaign begins against Hong Kong on September 16, followed by Qatar on September 17 and Vietnam on September 18. All three matches will be played at Park Arena Komaki in Aichi Prefecture.
The Vietnam match is expected to be particularly significant.
Vietnam was the opponent that eliminated South Korea from contention for a medal in Hangzhou, making the rematch an immediate test of how far the Korean team has progressed since its previous Asian Games disappointment.
Coach Cha has also pointed to Vietnam as South Korea’s first major test, noting that Korea has defeated the Vietnamese team twice this year and will try to do so again in Japan.
Recent Form Offers Both Hope and Questions
South Korea enters the Asian Games with encouraging and cautionary results.
The team won the AVC Nations Cup in June, but later suffered a quarterfinal defeat to Thailand at the Asian Women’s Volleyball Championship in August. That mixed recent record means the Asian Games will provide another major test for a team still developing under a changing generation of players.
Kang herself knows the pressure surrounding the tournament.
Having already experienced the highs of an Asian Games bronze and the disappointment of missing the podium entirely, she now has another opportunity to lead South Korea back into medal contention.
And with this potentially being her final Asian Games, the stakes are even higher.
For Kang So-hwi, this tournament is not simply another international competition. It could be her final chance to leave an Asian Games legacy—and she wants that legacy to end with a medal.
Leave a Reply