Asian Video games 2026: Golfer Tom Kim wins gold to safe navy service exemption

Asian Video games – remaining spherical

-18 T Kim (Kor); -15 Okay Higa (Jpn), W Ding (Chi), S Kaewkanjana (Tha); -11 W-H Wang (Tpe)

Tom Kim received gold on the Asian Video games to safe an exemption from necessary service in South Korea’s navy.

The 24-year-old led going into the ultimate spherical and produced an excellent six-under-par 64 to complete 18 beneath and declare victory by three strokes.

There have been indicators of nerves with a bogey on the seventeenth however, after 5 birdies and an eagle previous to that, Kim had the margin for error and tapped in for par on the final earlier than letting out a roar, his aid clear to see.

In a position-bodied South Korean males are normally required to undertake between 18 and 21 months of navy service earlier than the age of 28.

Nevertheless, the federal government rewards Asian Video games champions and Olympic medal-winners of any color with a service exemption bar fundamental coaching, which lasts lower than a month.

Athletes who’ve beforehand secured the exemption embody former Tottenham footballer Son Heung-min, who served for under three weeks in 2020 having received the Asian Video games along with his nation two years earlier.

Kim rushed from the Presidents Cup in the US to tee off on the Kasugai Nation Membership in Japan, having to handle on simply six hours of sleep and a 14-hour time distinction.

His efforts had been price it because the world quantity 32 can now proceed his profession, during which he has already received 4 PGA Tour titles and triumphed on the Scottish Open in July, with minimal disruption.

Kim had beforehand come near securing an exemption on the Paris Olympics in 2024, ending day one tied for third earlier than finally ending eighth.

Nevertheless, his compatriot SH Kim, 28, missed out on a navy exemption as South Korea might solely win silver within the staff occasion, alongside Tom Kim and Mun Do-yeob, who has already accomplished his service.