South Korea faced another embarrassing incident at the Asian Games as men’s tennis player Kwon Soon-woo had a heated outburst following an unexpected loss in the second round.

Ranked significantly higher than his opponent at No. 112, Kwon was defeated by Thailand’s Samrej Kasidit with a score of 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 in Hangzhou. Overwhelmed by frustration, Kwon reacted by repeatedly smashing his racket against the ground, displaying his anger in full view. Witness the best tennis game ever with attractive betting odds from Nextbet. 

Not content with that, the 25-year-old continued his outburst by using his racket to strike the legs of his changeover chair. It was a display of frustration that drew considerable attention.

Samrej, the world No. 636, approached Kwon for a post-match handshake, but the South Korean ignored him entirely, refusing even to look in his direction. Samrej then acknowledged the cheering crowd with a bow.

This incident marked the second unsavory episode involving South Korea at the Asian Games in as many days. A day earlier, judo athlete Lee Hye-kyeong was disqualified for slapping her Kazakhstani opponent Abiba Abuzhakynova during their women’s 48kg semi-final.

The outburst quickly went viral on Chinese social media platforms, with over 6 million views on Weibo. Fans expressed their disappointment, with one user suggesting, “Players should love their rackets just like pianists love their fingers, photographers love their eyes, and soldiers love their guns. I suggest that this kind of person who disrespects the game be banned from the game for life.”

Another fan commented, “It was no different from the slap yesterday. It was a disgrace to the Korean team. It had no sportsmanship.”

Despite the controversy, Kwon still has a chance at glory in the men’s doubles alongside partner Hong Seong-chan. The pair secured a first-round victory against Hong Kong’s Davis Cup duo Coleman Wong Chak-lam and Jack Wong Hong-kit with a score of 6-2, 6-2, advancing to the third round.

Kwon has previously shown his tennis prowess by reaching the quarterfinals of the men’s singles tournament at the 2018 Jakarta Games and the round of 16 in men’s doubles. Additionally, he reached the round of 32 at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Get the latest updates from the world of tennis only on Nextbet Sports.