Kim Hyo-bin dedicates canoeing double gold to his foster parents

The Korea Times - Sep 28, 2026

Kim Hyo-bin, a 25-year-old who has become a rising star in Korean canoeing and won two gold medals at the Asian Games, broke down in tears as he spoke about the couple who raised him with love. Lee Gong-heon, 70, and his wife, Choi Hyeon-suk, 63, took him in when he was 9 months old and cared for him until he left their children's home at 19. “They are my parents,” Kim said, wiping away tears repeatedly. “Although I never experienced the care of my biological parents, I don't think it would be easy for any biological parents to care for me as well as they did.” At the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, he won two titles alongside his idol and fellow former student from Buyeo High School, Cho Gwang-hee, 33, who also represents Ulsan Metropolitan City Hall. Kim claimed his first gold medal on Sept. 24 in the men's canoe sprint kayak four 500-meter event. The following day, he and Cho won the men's kayak double 500-meter event, making Kim the first Korean athlete to win two gold medals at this year's Games. Caressing his medals, Kim said, “I never expected to win gold in the four-perso

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Sep 28, 2026

S. Korea's Mo Su-min wins silver in kurash, 1st medal at Asian Games

South Korea's Mo Su-min won the silver medal in the women's 78-kilogram kurash event at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Monday, marking the country's first kurash medal at the games. Mo lost to Pokizakhon Kamoldinova of Uzbekistan 10-0 by a khalol (a full point) in the event's final at Aichi Prefectural Martial Arts Hall in Nagoya, Japan. Mo's silver is also the first kurash medal won by a female athlete since the wrestling-like sport was introduced to the Asian Games in 2018. South Korean male kurash wrestlers have won one silver and one bronze at the previous Asian Games. Kurash is a type of wrestling practiced in Central Asia. Athletes attempt to score by throwing their opponents, with a khalol, a throw that lands the opponent on their back, declared a victory, while other ground techniques are prohibited.

Sep 28, 2026

S. Korean fencers finish Asian Games with 4 golds, eye 2028 Olympics

South Korea's fencing team wrapped up its Asian Games campaign with four gold medals, its lowest haul in 16 years, leaving behind both achievements and challenges ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. South Korea captured four golds, four silvers and two bronzes in the fencing competition, which ran from Tuesday to Sunday at Aichi Sky Expo in Tokoname, south of Nagoya. In the fencing medal table, South Korea finished second behind host Japan, which won six golds, two silvers and three bronzes. It was the first time South Korea had lost the top position in fencing at the Asian Games since 2010, when the country first rose to the top with seven gold medals. Since then, South Korea had remained atop the standings, winning eight golds in 2014, and six each in 2018 and 2023. The host country's strength was widely expected, as Japan's fencing has made its presence felt on the world stage since the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Japan won five fencing medals, including two golds, at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and most of its Olympians competed at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. For South Korea, fencing off

Sep 28, 2026

Football forward Eom guards against complacency ahead of semifinal duel vs. China

NAGOYA, Japan — With Korea about to take on China in the semifinals of the Asiad men's football tournament this week, winger Eom Ji-sung said Monday the biggest threat to his team's gold medal chase may be complacency. "The moment we start taking wins for granted, we will fall apart," Eom said in a video released by the Korea Football Association (KFA) during the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Korea's under-23 team will face China at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Nagai Stadium in Osaka, some 140 kilometers west of the main host city, Nagoya. Coached by Lee Min-sung, the young Taegeuk Warriors are trying to claim South Korea's fourth consecutive men's football gold medal. It has been mostly smooth sailing so far. Eom's hat trick powered South Korea past Qatar 4-1 in the first group stage match, and Korea blanked Saudi Arabia 2-0 to clinch the top spot in Group D. Then in the quarterfinals, Korea routed Vietnam 4-0. "The mood has been great in training sessions, after those wins in the group stage and the quarterfinals," Eom said. "Our attackers have been on fire. After I scored three times in the first

Sep 28, 2026

Men's handball coach praises players despite semifinal loss to Qatar at Asian Games

INAZAWA, Japan — After losing their berth in the men's handball final at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Monday, Korea's head coach praised his players for competing on equal terms with defending champion Qatar. "I told my players that I'm proud of them. We lost the match, but our players did well," said Cho Young-shin, who broke into tears after the semifinal. "I think our players' resolve and determination to win were much bigger than those of the opponent." Korea lost to Qatar 32-20 in the event's semifinal at Entrio in Inazawa, just northwest of Nagoya, Japan. The team fought a seesaw battle in the first half and the first 20 minutes of the second half against Qatar, which is seeking its fourth consecutive Asian Games title. But Korea failed to make a comeback in the end. "From an objective perspective, the Qatari team, pursuing its fourth consecutive Asian Games gold, is about seven to three better than us, I think," he said. "But our players played on equal terms for 60 minutes, never giving up and showing all they have." Korea had sought its first gold medal in men's handball since