Sunwoo Kwon was considered a heavy favorite against Thailand’s Kasidit Samrej, but the South Korean unexpectedly lost in the round of 16 at the Asian Games and took revenge on his racket.

Sunwoo Kwon’s rage at the Asian GamesPhoto: ViralPress / Viral Press / Profimedia

Sunwoo Kwon destroyed his racket after losing at the Asian Games

Ranked No. 112 in the ATP rankings, Kwon (the No. 4 seed) was defeated in three sets by Samrej (634 ATP), 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.

Kwon destroyed his racket in a fit of rage and then also refused the traditional handshake. The video has garnered more than a million views on China’s Weibo platform and sparked outrage among netizens in South Korea.

The Korean Olympic and Sports Committee (KSOC) said Kwon’s actions were “extremely regrettable”. The player was also criticized by the Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of South Korea.

“Once the Games are over, we will take appropriate action on this situation through a comprehensive review,” said KSOC.

Kwon apologized to Kasidit as well as his South Korean fans in a handwritten note posted on social media.

“I behaved recklessly shortly after the end of the match, and I should not have done that as a player of the national team.” Kwon wrote.

Know:

  • Had he won a gold medal at the Asian Games, Sunwoo Kwon (25) would have avoided mandatory military service.
  • In South Korea, all able-bodied men between the ages of 18 and 28 are required to enlist in the military as part of an effort to defend against the nuclear threat posed by North Korea.

Check out this Instagram post

The post was shared by 권순우 SoonWoo Kwon (@soonwookwon)