Inter-Korean women's handball team may be formed at upcoming event
South Korean women's handball head coach Lee Kye-chung, left, speaks with a North Korean coach before the start of an inter-Korean match held at GOR Popki Cibubur in Jakarta, Tuesday. Yonhap
By Kang Aa-young
The two Koreas are likely to form a joint women's handball team at an upcoming competition, the South Korean team's head coach Lee Kye-chung said Tuesday, after defeating the North during the preliminaries of the Jakarta Palembang Asian Games.
“At the next competition, chances are the two Koreas may have a unified women's team,” Lee said after the first inter-Korean match at the Asiad. The South Korean team won 39-22.
The next games Lee referred to is the 17th Asian Women's Championships, which will open in the southwestern Japanese city of Kumamoto, Dec. 1.
“I heard that the International Handball Federation (IHF) first suggested making a joint team, even though I don't know the possibilities in detail. It will be an honor both personally and nationally, if the joint team wins a spot for the world championship at the Asian championships. The result will be meaningful beyond just the tournament,” Lee said. “However, I hope South Korean players are not put at a disadvantage for the sake of the unified team.”
There is an apparent gap in performance between the South Korean team and the one from the North as of now.
Defending champion South Korea has won six gold medals at the seven Asian Games since the sport's inclusion in 1990. Its North Korean counterpart, however, is considerably weaker.
Players on the South Korean (white) and North Korean women's handball teams high-five each other before the start of their preliminary match at the Asian Games at GOR Popki Cibubur in Jakarta, Tuesday. Yonhap
In the case of a joint team, the coaches could count the cost from the difference level.
However, Lee said he saw some strong points from the North Korean players during the match.
“The speed of some of the players in their movements was noticeable. They seem to play with a lot of fight when they see an opening.”
South Korea will have a match against India today. Lee and the team will try to defend their title in upcoming matches, aiming for a second consecutive Asiad gold.
“I told the members of the team to play with a fighting spirit. Since the Inter-Korean game attracted much public attention, the players looked a little sluggish,” Lee said. “We expect to play against Japan in the final and we'll discipline ourselves to get prepared for the gold.”