Wrong anthem mars South Korea's Asian Games hockey opener

The South Korean men's hockey team experienced an awkward moment before their opening fixture when the wrong anthem echoed through the venue. Organisers mistakenly played North Korea's national anthem instead of South Korea's ahead of Friday's match against Bangladesh at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan.

The error prompted swift apologies from Games officials, who acknowledged the administrative blunder. The mix-up highlighted the need for heightened attention to detail during medal events at the continental competition, where protocol breaches can overshadow sporting achievements.

While the anthem confusion initially caught the South Korean squad off guard, the team proceeded with their match as scheduled. The incident served as a reminder of the logistical complexities involved in hosting major multi-sport events, particularly in the context of regional sensitivities.

Asian Games organisers did not immediately clarify how the mix-up occurred or what measures would be implemented to prevent similar incidents during the remainder of the competition.