‘Drinking scandal’ Chung Chul-won to be replaced…Asian Games roster confirmed
South Korea’s baseball roster for the Hangzhou Asian Games has been finalized.
South Korean baseball is in crisis, with poor international performances, a drinking scandal, and an accelerated generation change.
Reporter Kwon Sol.
[Reporter]
The new national team includes young core players from the KBO, including Lee Jung-hoo, Moon Dong-joo, and Kang Baek-ho.
The theme of the national team is generational change.
21 of the 24 players are 25 years old or younger.
After a string of poor performances in international competitions, this is a sign that younger players will be the mainstay of the national team in the future.
There is also the aftermath of the WBC drinking scandal.
[Cho Gye-hyun / Chairman of the KBO Power Enhancement Committee]
“We set the age limit at under 25 years old because we thought that younger players would be given a sense of pride, self-respect, and responsibility for the national team.”
Jung Chul-won was not included in the roster, as his suspension was finalized due to a “drunken excommunication.
Park Se-woong, Koo Chang-mo, and Choi Won-jun were selected as “wild cards” under the age of 29.
They’re expected to bring experience to the national team.
Koo Chang-mo has been injured but is expected to be fine for the Asian Games.
Jang Hyun-seok, a hard-throwing pitcher for Masan Yongmago, became the first high school player to make the Asian Games team.
South Korean baseball has struggled in recent international competitions, but has been strong at the Asian Games 먹튀검증.
They will look to win their fourth consecutive title in Hangzhou.
[Ryu Jung-il / National Head Coach]
“The goal is gold. We are young players, but we will work together to win the gold medal.”
Of the 24 new athletes, 19 have not completed military service.
If they win a gold medal at the Asian Games, they will be exempt from military service.