Unified Korea Advances to 2018 Asian Games Women's Basketball Final
Jakarta. The unified Korean women's basketball team has advanced to the final of the 2018 Asian Games after a powerful performance against Taiwan in Jakarta on Thursday (30/08).
The two Koreas now have the chance to win another gold, after a historic win in the women's 500-meter dragon boat race in Palembang, South Sumatra, on Sunday.
North Korea's Ro Suk-yong and South Korea's Park Hye-jin and Lim Yung-hui led the scoreboard with 17 points each during the women's basketball semifinals.
On Saturday, the team, consisting of nine South Korean and three North Korean players will face China, which defeated Japan 86-74 in the other semifinal.
The two Koreas have had five wins out of six in the tournament, after suffering an 87-85 overtime loss to Taiwan in the preliminary round.
However, they were far more dominant and efficient against the same opponent on Thursday, with Park Ji-su taking the lead with 11 rebounds during the game, which they won 89-66.
Supporters wearing white T-shirts with a map of the Korean Peninsula in blue, chanting "Korea!" to rhythmic claps and whacks of balloon sticks, filled the basketball hall with spirit of unity.
Several Korean players had tears of joy as they hugged and high-fived each other after the match.
Athletes of the two countries marched together under the unification flag during the 2018 Asian Games opening ceremony in Jakarta on Aug. 18.
They competed together as a team in women's basketball, rowing and canoeing, also winning two bronze medals in the latter.
The team's performance in the women's basketball final will make history, as it will be the first medal won by a unified Korean team in ball sports at an international multisport event.
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