Asiad football crown worth its weight in gold for Spurs' Son
Son Heung Min has lit up the World Cup and the English Premier League but, unnervingly, it is the Asian Games in Indonesia that could make or break the career of the prolific South Korean forward.
Anything less than gold and Son, 26, faces a compulsory stint of nearly two years' military service - a severe blow to the player, his national team and his club, Tottenham Hotspur.
As Asia's all-time EPL top-scorer, and a huge celebrity in his home country, he will undoubtedly be the Asian Games football tournament's biggest star.
But more than national glory is at stake as nearly every able-bodied South Korean male - regardless of wealth or fame - is required to enrol by age 28 in the military, for a minimum of 21 months.
Son is banking on the defending champions earning him a rare reprieve permitted for only elite sportsmen such as Olympic or World Cup medallists. At the Asian Games, only gold will be sufficient to avoid the call-up.
While South Korea enter the Asian Games as favourites, the tournament features fellow 2018 World Cup contestants Japan, Saudi Arabia and Iran.
But, unlike those rival nations, South Korea have used their three wildcards - players permitted aged over 23 - to bring in their biggest stars.
Tottenham have shown willingness to compromise, despite knowing the prolific forward could miss EPL clashes against Fulham, Manchester United and Watford if his team reach the final.
Son, who signed a new, five-year deal with Spurs last month, has been released in return for missing South Korea's first two games at January's senior-level Asian Cup, along with an international friendly in November.
The Asian Games are not a Fifa tournament, so clubs are not obliged to make players available.
Son missed the last edition, when South Korea beat North Korea in a tense final, after Bayer Leverkusen refused to release him. But both club and player know Son is approaching his peak playing age, and the toll two years away from any football could take on his career.
South Korea kick off their campaign against Bahrain today, before further group matches against Malaysia and Kyrgyzstan. The final will take place on Sept 1. - AFP
LAST NIGHT'S RESULTS
China 6 East Timor 0, Vietnam 3 Pakistan 0, Uzbekistan 3 Bangladesh 0, UAE 0 Syria 1, Japan 1 Nepal 0, Thailand 1 Qatar 1
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