The South Korean fighting game national team defeated Japan to claim the gold medal at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Composed of Bae "Knee" Jae-min, Lee "MadKoF" Kwang-no, and Yeon "DakCorgi" Je-gil, the national team defeated Japan 5-2 in the final held at Aichi Sky Expo on September 26.
Lee Kwang-no secured two sets in 'The King of Fighters XV', while Yeon Je-gil defeated Higuchi in their 'Street Fighter 6' rematch after losing the first match. Bae Jae-min of 'Tekken 8' lost his initial match against Nobi, but won both of his subsequent matches to seal the gold medal.
Bae Jae-min reflected that after Japan was confirmed as their opponent in the final, his desperate desire for the gold medal collided with anxiety over defeat. "In over 30 years of playing games, this was the most meaningful day," he said. "I am truly happy to share the news that we won a gold medal in esports." Even for Bae, who has experienced countless international tournaments, the pressure of the Asian Games final was exceptional. He explained that although he felt frustrated in his first match because he could not perform as desired, he was able to recover his performance by reviewing his mistakes before his next appearance.
Lee Kwang-no, who remained undefeated throughout the tournament, stated that he believed in the victories of his two teammates as well as his own. "I thought if I won, the other two players would also win for us," Lee said, giving credit to the head coach, association officials, teammates, and staff who supported them with physical therapy.
Yeon Je-gil, who was making his second attempt following the Hangzhou Asian Games, said he was able to remain steadfast thanks to his teammates. After facing and defeating Higuchi, to whom he had lost in the first match, he reflected: "I fulfilled my part. I was glad to think that it would make the team's path to the finish line easier."
Ahead of the competition, the three players lived and trained together in Busan for about a month. They repeated training sessions from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., with the oldest player, Lee Kwang-no, managing his physical condition through a mix of physical therapy and rest. Bae Jae-min and Yeon Je-gil shared that despite the difficulty of living away from their families, they endured the training alongside their teammates.
The fact that three players in their 40s won the gold medal together added further meaning to this championship. Bae Jae-min shared, "I hope someone sees us and thinks, 'I can do it too.'" Yeon Je-gil also emphasized, "Age is just a number. If you work hard, age means nothing." Speaking with one voice, they demonstrated their unquenchable passion by expressing a desire to help in any form if the next Asian Games take place.
