Members of South Korea’s men’s field hockey team were reportedly bewildered on Friday after the North Korean national anthem was played in error before their Asian Games match against Bangladesh. Players stood looking on, with some remaining at attention and others holding their hands over their hearts, according to reports.
Event organisers quickly corrected the mistake, first playing Bangladesh's national anthem before playing South Korea's. However, due to time constraints, the referee instructed players to exchange greetings while the South Korean anthem was still playing, meaning athletes started the match without being able to sing their anthem.
South Korea went on to win the match 5-0. Early fixtures at the Asian Games are being staged ahead of the official opening ceremony on Saturday to accommodate a crowded schedule, which features over 11,000 competitors.