Korea defeated Japan 2-1 to win gold at the Asian Games, Saturday, a third straight triumph in the men’s tournament. It wasn’t smooth sailing but the young Taeguk Warriors have won all seven matches in Hangzhou and the celebrations at the final whistle were heartfelt and very much deserved.
As everyone knows, this U-23 tournament in which teams are also allowed to select three players of any age, is not just about the medal but what it means. The Korean government grants all male athletes who win gold at the Asian Games ― any medal at the Olympics will do ? exemption from the 18 to 21 months of military service that they must start by the age of 28.
It means that the likes of Lee Kang-in, a talented midfielder who signed for Paris Saint-Germain in the summer, does not need to cut short his 토토 European career and return home in a few years time for military service. Just look at what happened in the past with Son Heung-min and Kim Min-jae.
They won gold in 2018 and are now playing at Tottenham Hotspur and Bayern Munich respectively. The next generation of stars in the country are now free to go wherever they want. Lee is just 22 and has a very bright future at the top levels of European football and now, he has a decade or more to look forward to, should he desire it.
That was looking uncertain after 90 seconds in China as Kotaro Uchino put Japan ahead with a shot high into the net from close range within the first 90 seconds. It was a surprise. While Korea uses the best players it possibly can as the only thing that matters is winning gold, Japan is able to treat the Asian Games as purely a developmental event, giving talented youngsters a chance to experience a competitive tournament.