SK Hawks Extend Winning Streak to Six with Dramatic Handball Victory
The SK Hawks maintained their dominant form in the Shinhan SOL Bank 2025-26 Handball H League Men’s Division, securing a sixth consecutive win with a hard-fought 19-17 victory over the Chungnam Provincial Office on Thursday, June 6th, at the Seonhak Gymnasium in Incheon. The triumph was fueled by a stellar performance from Park Kwang-soon and exceptional goalkeeping by Hyeong-jin.
Despite a challenging start marked by shooting inaccuracies and early penalties, the SK Hawks demonstrated resilience and concentration to overcome their opponents. The team now boasts a record of 6 wins and 12 points, solidifying their position at the top of the league standings. The Chungnam Provincial Office, despite a tenacious defensive effort, fell to 1 win and 5 losses (2 points).
The early stages of the match saw the Chungnam Provincial Office take the initiative. A strong start from their goalkeeper, Kim Soo-hwan, who recorded four saves in the opening minutes, coupled with efficient offense, allowed them to establish a 3-1 lead. The SK Hawks struggled with their shooting, particularly from Francisco, and found themselves trailing 5-3 by the 18th minute.
The turning point arrived with the introduction of Park Kwang-soon. Immediately injecting pace into the attack, he scored five consecutive goals, spearheading the SK Hawks’ attempt to close the gap. However, the Chungnam Provincial Office, bolstered by Yoo Myung’s mid-range shooting and continued strong goalkeeping from Kim Soo-hwan, managed to maintain their advantage, leading 10-8 at halftime.
The second half witnessed a complete shift in momentum. The SK Hawks quickly leveled the score at 11-11, with Kim Jin-ho contributing crucial points. Park Kwang-soon then secured a go-ahead goal, bringing the score to 12-11. Crucially, goalkeeper Hyeong-jin delivered a series of impressive saves, including a pivotal stop on a 7-meter throw, fundamentally altering the course of the game.
A prolonged defensive stalemate of over seven minutes followed, during which the SK Hawks faced a challenging situation with three players – Park Se-woong, Jang Dong-hyun, and Francisco – receiving 2-minute suspensions. Despite being outnumbered, the team, thanks to Hyeong-jin’s continued excellence and another goal from Park Kwang-soon, managed to hold onto a 13-12 lead.
The final minutes were defined by concentration and composure. Capitalizing on errors from the Chungnam Provincial Office, Park Kwang-soon and Kim Jin-ho scored consecutive goals to extend their lead to 16-14. A further goal from Park Kwang-soon in the 56th minute widened the gap to 17-14, effectively sealing the victory. The SK Hawks ultimately prevailed 19-17, completing their sixth straight win.
Park Kwang-soon led the SK Hawks’ attack with an impressive 8 goals, supported by 3 goals each from Kim Jin-ho and Jang Dong-hyun. Goalkeeper Hyeong-jin was instrumental in securing the win, making 12 crucial saves. For the Chungnam Provincial Office, Yu Myeong scored 5 goals and Won Min-jun added 4, while goalkeepers Kim Soo-hwan (10 saves) and Kim Hee-soo (8 saves) combined for 18 saves, but were ultimately unable to prevent the comeback.
Named the MVP of the game, Park Kwang-soon shared his thoughts on the victory, stating, “We won all the games in the first round and the first game of the second round was a bit difficult, but I am happy that we won 6 games in a row. I think the South Chungcheong Provincial Office analyzed us well and made us struggle. I will not let down my guard just because we are doing well now and will try to win every game.”
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