South Korea Rout Indonesia to Reach Asian Games Women’s Basketball Semifinals
South Korea defeated Indonesia 101-59 in Nagoya to advance to the Asian Games women’s basketball semifinals, where the team will face two-time defending champion China.
South Korea advanced to the women’s basketball semifinals at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Thursday with a commanding 101-59 quarterfinal victory over Indonesia.
Seven South Korean players scored in double figures at Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, underlining the depth of a team seeking its first Asian Games title in the event since 2014. South Korea will face two-time defending champion China in Friday’s semifinal at the same venue after China beat Mongolia 89-63 in the other quarterfinal.
South Korea established control with its outside shooting. The team made six three-pointers in the opening quarter to build a 28-18 lead, then added four more from long range in the second period. That burst sent coach Park Soo-ho’s side into halftime ahead 52-30.
Indonesia briefly slowed South Korea after the break, holding the team scoreless for roughly the first three minutes of the third quarter. The resistance did not last. South Korea recovered its offensive rhythm, extended the advantage to 71-43 by the end of the period and opened the fourth quarter with seven unanswered points on the way to a comfortable finish.
Forward Choi I-saem led the scoring with 16 points while making six of her seven field-goal attempts. Guards Heo Ye-eun and An He-ji each recorded eight assists, helping South Korea spread the scoring burden across the lineup. Captain Kang Lee-seul contributed 11 points and converted three shots from beyond the arc.
Park described the performance as his team’s most satisfying game of the tournament so far. He said Indonesia’s improvement had made South Korea look tense early, but fast-break opportunities in the second half allowed the team to settle into the contest.
The challenge will increase sharply against China. Park said South Korea must keep moving, play quickly in transition and create opportunities for its shooters. Kang also emphasized the need for sharper defense, calling the semifinal the team’s most important game.
South Korea has won four Asian Games gold medals in women’s basketball, most recently in Incheon in 2014. The team now stands one victory away from returning to the final, with China presenting the biggest test yet of its bid to reclaim the continental title.