Starting pitcher Kwak Bin on Sept. 27 throws the ball in the gold medal final against Japan at Toyohashi Municipal Baseball Stadium in Aichi Prefecture at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan.

By Lee Ji Yae
Photos = Yonhap News

Korea on Sept. 27 added five gold medals in baseball, women's handball, women's team sabre in fencing, individual dressage in equestrian and men's street skateboarding at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan.

In baseball, Korea beat the host country for the gold, 3-1, at Toyohashi Municipal Baseball Stadium in Aichi Prefecture. Led by manager Ryu Ji-hyun, Korea kept the game close behind Kwak Been, who allowed just one hit through six and a third scoreless innings.

Korea took a 3-1 lead in the eighth thanks to hits from Kim Do-yeong and Moon Bo-gyeong. Pitchers Jo Byeong-hyeon and Park Young-hyun then shut down Japan's batters to secure victory.

The win was Korea's fifth consecutive Asiad gold in baseball, a streak that started at the 2010 edition in Guangzhou, China.

In women's handball, the national team also defeated Japan, 27-23, in the final round-robin game at Entrio, aka Toyoda Gosei Memorial Gymnasium, in Inazawa, winning the gold for the first time since the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia.

Korea took an early 7-5 lead before Japan tied it but pulled ahead 14-10 with long-range shots, breakthroughs after intercepted passes and penalty shots. In the second half, the team maintained its lead with a penalty shot from Kim Minseo and a goal by captain Kwon Hanna following a breakthrough with three minutes left.

Korea went 6-0 in the tournament to claim the title.

Seo Ji-yeon on Sept. 27 attacks Japan's Misaki Emura in the women's team sabre final of fencing at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games held at Aichi Sky Expo in Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.

In fencing, the women's sabre team conquered Japan, 43-31, in the final at Aichi Sky Expo, winning the Asiad gold for the first time in eight years.

The national team in this sport concluded the tournament with four gold, four silver and two bronze, including the men's and women's team sabre titles and medals in epee and foil.

As of Sept. 28, Korea secured 83 medals -- 21 gold, 23 silver and 39 bronze -- to remain third overall in gold medals behind China (119) and Japan (37).

ljyhwa@korea.kr