(Asian Games) S. Korean striker in history books with hat tricks in Indonesia

JAKARTA, Aug. 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korean striker Hwang Ui-jo has found himself in the history books with his hat tricks in the men's football tournament at the 18th Asian Games. The Korea Football Association (KFA) said Tuesday that Hwang is now the first South Korean man to score two hat tricks in an international competition. Hwang netted three times in South Korea's 6-0 win over Bahrain in their Asiad opener. He then made another hat trick in South Korea's 4-3 extra time win over Uzbekistan in the quarterfinal match Monday. The Gamba Osaka striker is competing at the Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games as a "wild-card" member. The men's football competition at the Asian Games is open to footballers aged 23 or under, but teams can field up to three overage players known as wild cards. Hwang is currently the leading scorer in the Asiad men's football competition with eight goals. He also struck the back of the net against Malaysia in the group stage and Iran in the round of 16. The 26-year-old is four goals away from becoming the highest scoring South Korean in a single Asian Games. Hwang Sung-hong is currently the record holder after scoring 11 goals at Hiroshima 1994. Hwang has only two matches left: a semifinal against Vietnam and then the final or the bronze medal match. Meanwhile, on the women's side, two players have scored two hat tricks in a single international competition. Cha Sung-mi did so against Guam and Hong Kong at the 1999 AFC Women's Asian Cup. Yeo Min-ji had her hat tricks against Myanmar and Thailand at the 2009 AFC U-16 Championship. kdon@yna.co.kr (END)