Korea looks to return to the top as volleyball begins Wednesday

The Korean men’s volleyball team starts their bid to win a fourth Asian Games gold medal Wednesday as they first take on India in the first game of the preliminary round.

The Korean men's volleyball team poses for a photo before departing to Iran on Aug. 16 for the 2023 Asian Men's Volleyball Championship. [YONHAP]

The Korean men’s volleyball team starts their bid to win a fourth Asian Games gold medal Wednesday as they first take on India in the first game of the preliminary round.

The Hangzhou Asian Games begins in China on Saturday, but the men’s volleyball schedule starts four days early and runs through Sept. 26. A total of 19 countries, divided into six groups, will compete in the Asiad.

Korea is in Pool C of the tournament with India and Cambodia. The three teams will play each other with a round-robin format. The top two teams from the six groups will advance to the knockout round.

This year’s 12-member Korean team includes six players from the Incheon Korean Air Jumbos of the V League that won all three titles — the league title, championship and the Korea Volleyball Federation Cup — during the 2022-23 season.

Setter Han Sun-soo of the Jumbos, who was named MVP last season, is perhaps the biggest name on the team. Outside hitters Jung Ji-seok and Jeong Han-young and opposite hitter Im Dong-hyuk — all from the Jumbos — will lead Korea’s attack.

Libero Park Kyeong-min of the Cheonan Hyundai Capital Skywalkers is also in the squad alongside middle blockers Kim Kyu-min and Kim Min-jae of the Jumbos, who will be in charge of the defense.

Korea is ranked at 27th on the FIVB world ranking and will have to beat strong opponents like No. 5 Japan and No. 11 Iran to medal again.

Korea has won 14 Asiad medals — three golds, seven silvers and four bronzes — since a silver medal at the 1966 Asian Games in Thailand. The team won silver at the 2018 Asiad and their last gold meal came from the 2006 tournament.

“Every player knows how important this Asiad is to Korean men’s volleyball,” national team head coach Im Do-hun said during an interview with Yonhap at Linping Sports Centre Gymnasium in Hangzhou on Monday. “We prepared really hard for it and I hope the results will show.”

The Asian Games this year is a chance for Korea to show improvements from recent tournaments where they have failed to medal. They lost to China in the quarterfinals at the 2023 Asian Volleyball Championship last month and finished in fifth place.

Korea’s game against India will take place at Linping Sports Centre Gymnasium at 7 p.m.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]