The Asian Games 2026 in Japan have been riddled with controversies and major administrative and logistical blunders even before the tournament began. In fact, during the pool stage men’s hockey match between South Korea and Bangladesh, there was a major goof-up at Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium. As the teams lined up for the traditional pre-match ceremonies, organizers mistakenly played the national anthem of North Korea instead of South Korea’s. The South Korean players standing on the pitch were visibly baffled and shocked by the error.
They have won the Asian Games gold medal in men’s hockey four times, tying them with India for the second-most golds in the history of the tournament. South Korea are a traditional Asian powerhouse in hockey.
They defeated Bangladesh with an emphatic 5-0 victory. Realizing the gravity of the situation, the stadium announcer quickly stepped in to halt the major embarrassment. The announcer issued a direct apology over the stadium’s public address system to both the team and the spectators from South Korea. Despite the chaotic pre-match incident, the South Korean hockey team had a commanding performance on the field. The goals were scored by Bae Soung Min, Oh Seyong, Lee Gangsan, Yang Jihun, and Sim Jaewon.
