The South Korean national Pokémon UNITE team finished their tournament run with a bronze medal after failing to overcome tournament favorite Japan.
On September 27, South Korea lost 0-2 in set score to Japan in Semifinal 1 of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Pokémon UNITE competition. In the first set, South Korea was outplayed by Japan's precise macro play, and in the second set, they failed to maintain their early lead and allowed a comeback.
Japan's strengths were clearly evident starting from Set 1. Japan anticipated and countered South Korea's ambush plays and displayed outstanding teamwork in teamfights around major objectives. South Korea had an opportunity to turn the momentum around in the late game, but Japan maintained their tempo until the end to take the set 134-577.
Set 2 was even more disappointing. South Korea established momentum early on and held the lead against Japan. However, they lost control during a late-game fight over a key objective, and Japan capitalized on the opening to turn the match around and secure a 2-0 victory.
After the match, the national team captain said, “It is disappointing to lose after preparing so hard. There were areas where I fell short. If I get the chance to compete in a tournament like this again, I will prepare even more thoroughly and show a better performance.”
The captain cited his own positioning as the reason for the Set 2 loss. “My teammates all played so well that we had the upper hand, but my poor positioning seems to have led to the defeat, which I regret,” he reflected.
He also acknowledged Japan's performance. Having frequently held the lead until two minutes before the end of matches in recent practice games and qualifiers, South Korea believed they were fully capable of winning. However, the captain explained, “Japan was stronger than expected, and you could feel that their mental fortitude was genuinely strong. Their plays until the very end were impressive. I could see why they are considered a top team.”
Having entered the tournament with the goal of winning gold, feelings about the bronze medal were bittersweet. The captain said, “It is very disappointing because we came here to win gold, but I am still glad that we earned a medal. If we get the chance to meet them again at another tournament, I want to get revenge.”
At the end of the interview, he expressed his gratitude to those who supported their journey. He mentioned his teammates, with whom he had practiced for over two years, as well as the sponsors who supported their boot camp, physical therapists, psychological counselors, and managers.
The captain broke down in tears as he said, “I am so grateful to everyone, and I am sorry I couldn't bring home the gold medal.” After taking a moment to compose himself, he concluded the interview by saying, “If there are big stages in the future, I want to participate again. I will work hard to deliver even better results and performances.”
