Who is coaching Korea’s women’s volleyball team at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games and who are they playing in Pool D?

Cha Sang-hyun is coaching the team. Korea is grouped with Vietnam, Hong Kong and Qatar in Pool D, and its first match is against Hong Kong on Wednesday.

Why is Korea’s women’s volleyball team calling the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games a chance for redemption?

Korea missed the podium at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou after losing to Vietnam in its first preliminary match. It was the first time since 2006 that the team failed to win an Asian Games medal.

Which injured players are expected to be available for Korea’s women’s volleyball team at the Asian Games?

Captain Kang So-hwi said she is recovering from a left thigh injury, and coach Cha Sang-hyun said middle blocker Jung Ho-young should also be ready. Cha said the team has been working on recovery and managing players’ physical condition since August.

Women's volleyball team heads to Japan with sights set on redemption

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Summary

Korea’s national women’s volleyball team traveled to Japan on Sunday for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, aiming to rebound after missing the podium in 2023. Coached by Cha Sang-hyun, Korea will play Vietnam, Hong Kong and Qatar in Pool D, with its first match set for Wednesday against Hong Kong at Park Arena Komaki. Cha said the team has focused on recovery and set plays since the Asian championships in August. Captain Kang So-hwi and middle blocker Jung Ho-young are returning from injury, while Lee Da-hyeon is chasing an Asian Games medal like her mother.

Key Facts

Korea will open its Pool D schedule at 4 p.m. Wednesday against Hong Kong at Park Arena Komaki in Komaki, north of Nagoya.
The top two teams from each of the four groups will advance to the quarterfinals.
At the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, Korea lost to Vietnam in its first preliminary match and failed to reach the medal phase.
It was the first time since 2006 that Korea failed to win an Asian Games medal in women’s volleyball.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 13, 2026 10:22 am KST

Members of the Korean women's national volleyball team pose at Incheon International Airport, Sunday, before traveling to Nagoya, Japan, for the Asian Games. Yonhap

The national women's volleyball team traveled to Japan on Sunday for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, seeking redemption after failing to reach the podium at the previous competition in 2023.

Coached by Cha Sang-hyun, Korea will face Vietnam, Hong Kong and Qatar in Pool D of the preliminary round. The top two teams from each of the four groups will advance to the quarterfinals.

The competition for Korea will begin at 4 p.m. Wednesday against Hong Kong, with all Pool D matches taking place at Park Arena Komaki in Komaki, just north of Nagoya.

"Since the end of the Asian championships in August, we have been concentrating on recovering and managing our players' physical conditions," Cha told reporters at Incheon International Airport, just west of Seoul. "We have also been trying to polish up our set plays for the Asian Games. It broke my heart watching the national team three years ago. Everyone is extremely driven, and we will bring home good results."

At the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, Korea lost to Vietnam in its first preliminary match and failed to get into the medal phase. It was the first time since 2006 that Korea had failed to win an Asian Games medal in women's volleyball.

"Our first big test will be the match against Vietnam," Cha said of the showdown Friday. "We have beaten them twice this year, and we will try to win again this time."

Captain Kang So-hwi recently dealt with a left thigh injury but said Sunday she is getting better.

"I have not had good results at international competitions, and I want to reverse that trend this time," Kang said.

Another player returning from injury, middle blocker Jung Ho-young, should also be good to go, coach Cha said.

"She has a long history with setters on the national team so we should have no problem with their chemistry," Cha added.

Middle blocker Lee Da-hyeon will try to join her former player mother, Ryou Yeon-soo, as an Asian Games medalist.

Ryou helped Korea win silver at the 1990 Asiad in Beijing.

"She said she will come out to the airport to meet me only if I return with a medal," Lee said with a laugh.

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