A green light has been given to Hwang Seon-hong’s challenge for the gold medal at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games.
Recently, French media reported that Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) approved Lee Kang-in’s participation in the Hangzhou Asian Games. Fabrizio Romano also posted on Twitter that PSG had approved the selection of Lee Kang-in.
Director Hwang Seon-hong was deeply worried until the afternoon of the 14th. He mentioned the issue of Lee Kang-in’s selection at the media day event held at Paju NFC and could not hide his frustration.
Director Hwang said, 안전놀이터“I’m frustrated too. He is in personal communication with Lee Kang-in, and although he wants to join as soon as possible, it seems that there is no coordination with PSG on the timing of joining. “The association is in close communication with PSG, so I hope the timing of joining is decided so I can focus on the team,” he said.
He continued, “I would like to come at least 1 or 2 games before the group stage, but that is not happening. PSG is putting forward several conditions. I hope that discussions regarding the Asian Cup scheduled for January (selection of national team A) will go well and that we will join as soon as possible. I have not received an official answer regarding when I will join. “I was supposed to contact you on the 13th, including whether my injury has recovered, but I’m frustrated because I haven’t received an official response,” he said.
Even at this time, Coach Hwang should have considered Lee Kang-in’s failure to participate in the Hangzhou Asian Games. Fortunately, as reported by overseas media and Romano, the call-up was approved and the crisis of playing the tournament without an ace was avoided.
Lee Kang-in is an irreplaceable ace in the national team for this Asian Games. It is natural because he is already the core of the attack along with Son Heung-min in the A-national team. Thanks to Lee Kang-in, Hwang Seon-hong can aim for the gold medal once again following 2014 and 2018.
The problem is when to join. Seonhong Hwang leaves for China on the 16th and plays her first match against Kuwait on the 19th. Lee Kang-in’s selection for the Asian Games has been approved, but this does not mean that PSG will send him immediately. Local media mentioned that he would be selected next week. In other words, Lee Kang-in’s possibility of participating in the group stage is currently close to a question mark.
PSG has to play a league match against Nice on the 16th and the first leg of the UEFA Champions League against Dortmund on the 20th. If Lee Kang-in goes to China immediately after the Nice game, he can play normally in the game against Thailand on the 21st, even though the game against Kuwait will be difficult. However, if he completes his duties before Dortmund and leaves, there is a high possibility that he will appear before Bahrain on the 24th. If you need to manage your condition, you may be delayed from participating in the tournament.
Coach Hwang wanted Lee Kang-in to join early, but from PSG’s perspective, sending him to the Asian Games was itself considerate. Since it was a competition and not a mandatory selection, it was not a big problem to decline. Even Lee Kang-in is in rehabilitation for quite some time due to injury. However, PSG paid the minimum consideration, and Hwang Seon-hong was able to aim for the gold medal with his ace.
What is important now is that Hwang Seon-hong must play well in at least one game and at most two games that will be played without Lee Kang-in. Kuwait and Thailand are both difficult opponents. But if you can’t beat them, there’s no gold medal. And we must prepare to run quickly when Lee Kang-in returns.