Son Heung-min has lit up the World Cup and the Premier League, but unnervingly, it is the Asian Games in Jakarta that could make or break the career of the prolific South Korean forward.
Anything less than gold and Son, 26, faces a compulsory stint of nearly two years’ military service — a severe blow to the player, his national team and Tottenham Hotspur.
Son bade farewell to his Spurs teammates after Saturday’s season-opening win at Newcastle and flew to Jakarta for the Asian Games under a special deal brokered with the club.
Photo: AFP
As Asia’s all-time Premier League top-scorer and a huge celebrity in his home country, he will undoubtedly be the Asian Games soccer tournament’s biggest star, but more than national glory is at stake, as nearly every able-bodied South Korean male is required to enroll by age 28 in the military.
Son is banking on the defending champions earning him a rare reprieve only permitted for elite sportsmen, such as Olympic or World Cup medalists.
At the Asian Games, only gold will be sufficient to avoid the call-up. While South Korea enter the Asian Games as favorites, the tournament features fellow World Cup contestants Japan, Saudi Arabia and Iran.
However, unlike those nations, South Korea has used its three wildcards — players permitted aged over 23 — to bring in its biggest stars.
Tottenham have shown willingness to compromise, despite knowing the prolific forward could miss Premier League clashes against Fulham, Manchester United and Watford if South Korea reach the final.
Son, who last month signed a new five-year deal with Spurs, has been released in return for missing South Korea’s first two games at January next year’s Asian Cup, along with an international friendly in November.
The Asian Games is not a FIFA tournament, so clubs are not obliged to make players available. Son missed the last edition after Bayer Leverkusen refused to release him.
However, both club and player know that Son is approaching his peak playing age, and the toll two years away from any the game could take on his career.
If they fail at the Asian Games, Son is to swap Tottenham’s new White Hart Lane stadium for life in military barracks, where up to 30 soldiers sleep in each room.
On meager pay of 310,000 won (US$274.86) per month, soldiers are assigned to a range of duties from riding tanks to standing patrol at the border with North Korea.
An infamously spartan military diet has at least improved over the past decade, with soldiers in the mess served rice, meat or fish and soup, along with kimchi.
And Son might have other elite soccer players for company.
Goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo, who shot to prominence with a string of superb saves in the win over Germany, and Japan-based Hwang Ui-jo also face their last chances to avoid military service.
However, the stakes are even higher for Son, given his burgeoning career in soccer’s richest league.
While most top South Korean players can spend their service playing for the K-League’s military side Sangju Sangmu, Son is not eligible, as he has never appeared in the domestic league.
South Korea kick off their tournament against Bahrain today.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and