As Defeat Loomed in the Vietnam War, Kim Yeon-kyung Lost Words in Shock... 'Stoic Face' After Comeback Loss

Successful Asian Games Commentator Debut
Regrettable Comeback Loss with a Message to "Prepare for the Quarterfinals"

The South Korean women's volleyball team suffered a come-from-behind defeat against Vietnam in the first match of Group C in the '2022 Hangzhou Asian Games' group stage. Volleyball queen Kim Yeon-koung, making her debut as a commentator, showed a stern expression, revealing her shock at the group stage result.

On the 1st, Kim Yeon-koung, who took on the first commentary role for the women's volleyball Group C preliminary match against Vietnam broadcast live on KBS 2TV, successfully completed her commentary debut alongside caster Lee Jae-hoo and commentator Yoon Bong-woo.

The expression of Kim Yeon-koung, frozen in shock after the South Korean national team suffered a come-from-behind defeat to Vietnam.
[Photo by KBS 2TV]

On the other hand, the South Korean women's volleyball team ultimately knelt after a come-from-behind loss to Vietnam. In the first Group C preliminary match of the Hangzhou Asian Games held at the Gymnasium of Hangzhou Normal University Changqian Campus, the South Korean women's volleyball team won 2 sets but then lost 3 consecutive sets to Vietnam.

At the start of the match, Kim Yeon-koung pointed out the situation where Vietnam was not marking South Korea's middle blockers, saying, "It would be good to utilize the center."

When caster Kim Jeong-hoo asked Kim Yeon-koung about what was good in the first set, she analyzed, "The reception was well done. Because the other players were well marked, I think that led to the victory in the first set."

In the second set, attacks went back and forth with Vietnam, and the score remained tied. Kim Yeon-koung expressed regret, saying, "We defended well during the counterattack situation, but it didn't connect, allowing the opponent to score." She emphasized left-side defense in the second set. The national team seemed to have remotely listened to 'Kim Yeon-koung's advice' and started left-side defense in the third set.

Kim Yeon-koung said, "Even in the Asian Games, our players allowed many opportunities in the third set. We need to change the momentum quickly."

The national team broke Vietnam's flow in the fourth set and fired up their momentum, but after a 22-24 comeback, the match proceeded to the fifth set. As the South Korean women's volleyball team's chances of winning unexpectedly dimmed, Kim Yeon-koung appeared deeply shocked and was momentarily speechless.

The match against Vietnam ended in a 2-3 loss (25-16, 25-22, 22-25, 22-25, 11-15). Kim Yeon-koung delivered a message to the South Korean women's volleyball team, which started the Asian Games with a disappointing loss, saying, "Since the match against Nepal is right tomorrow, we need to play through what didn't go well today and prepare for the quarterfinals."

The South Korean women's volleyball team will face Nepal on the 2nd. Kim Yeon-koung will also provide commentary that day.