Cover Here are the best sports K-dramas to watch (Photo: tvN)

Looking for your next watch after Twenty Five, Twenty One? Here are eight other inspiring sports-themed K-dramas to check out

Korean dramas sure have plenty to offer: from webtoon-based stories to romance, horror and more. The sports K-drama Twenty Five, Twenty One recently wrapped up, leaving watchers hungry for more similar stories. The drama spent time in Netflix Hong Kong’s top 10 every week during its run. It follows an aspiring high school fencer who dreams of making it big.

If you’re looking for more sports-themed Korean dramas to watch, you’re in luck because there are plenty to choose from. Below, we round up some of the best sports K-dramas that you should watch if you’re still not over Twenty Five, Twenty One.

Don’t miss: Why Netflix K-Drama ‘Twenty Five Twenty One’ Is Going to Be a Heart-Fluttering Watch

1. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo

Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo follows a group of aspiring athletes who are pursuing their dreams of becoming national athletes. It centres around Bok-joo (Lee Sung-kyung), a weightlifter who aims to win a gold medal but finds romance for the first time in her life.

Those who’ve seen Twenty Five, Twenty One will also find a familiar face here: Nam Joo-hyuk. The actor plays Jung Joon-hyung, a star swimmer. The drama is inspired by the life of weightlifter and Olympic gold-medalist Jang Mi-ran.

The drama garnered a cult following especially among young people for its coming-of-age story and inspiring female lead.

See also: 9 Korean Drama Female Leads Who Inspire Us to Be Our Best Selves

 

2. Racket Boys

Racket Boys tells the story of a boys’ middle school badminton team as they hone their skills and learn a thing or two about life. The series sees former badminton player Yoon Hyung-jong (Kim Sang-kyung) jump at the chance to become the coach of a middle school team on the verge of disbandment.

The boys struggle in the beginning but as more players join the team, they gradually improve and start to enter competitions where they can soar to new heights. 

3. Hot Stove League

Hot Stove League follows the preparation period that a major league baseball team experiences. The team has been the worst for four consecutive years so a new general manager arrives to help.

The new manager Baek Seung-soo (Min Nam-koong) has zero experience leading a baseball team, but he does excel in other areas like wrestling and ice hockey and has led teams to championships. The drama will focus on the team’s problems, how they can improve and the preparations they need to become a stronger team.

The drama received critical acclaim including several awards such as Best Drama at the prestigious Baeksang Arts Awards. Min also won the Grand Prize (Daesang) at the SBS Drama Awards.

4. Fight For My Way

Only one character in Fight For My Way is involved in sports, nevertheless, it plays a big part in the series. Ko Dong-man (Park Seo-joon) has always dreamed of becoming a national taekwondo athlete but instead, he works as a contract employee at a job he doesn’t want. Eager to make his dreams come true, he eventually trains to become a professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter.

On the other hand, his best friend Choi Ae-ra (Kim Ji-won) aspires to be a news anchor but works at a department store. Together, the two friends fight their way to make their dreams come true.

Don’t miss: Tiffany Teo, One of the World’s Best Female Martial Artists, on Her Victorious Return to the Cage

5. Just Dance

Based on the documentary of the same name, Just Dance tells the story of a group of girls in Geoje Girl’s Vocational High School. The six-member group is also part of the school’s dance club and they aim to win a dance sports competition—with the help of each other.

Read also: How A Principal Dancer Spends Her Day: From Breakfast Siu Mai to Studio Stretching Exercises

6. High School King of Savvy

This K-drama follows Lee Min-seok (Seo In-guk), a rising high school hockey player living a double life. When he’s not being a student and star athlete, he’s busy pretending to be his older brother at a new job while the brother goes into hiding.

7. Thumping Spike

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This underrated gem sees star volley player Hwang Seung-eon (Kang Se-ra) put a high school boys’ volleyball team into shape. It’s not easy given the stubborn players. But soon enough, they start to develop friendships and teamwork. A heart-thumping romance also starts to form.

8. Sassy Go Go

Sassy Go Go is set in a highly competitive high school that puts achievement and test scores above all else. But amidst the harsh standard that the students are put in, they push back, especially Kang Yeon-doo (Jung Eun-ji), the leader of a street dance club that’s considered an outcast due to their poor academic results.

She goes head to head with Kim Yeol (Lee Won-keun), a star student and leader of an elite club of academic achievers. The two clubs are forced to merge to create a cheerleading squad, where the two leaders are forced to set aside their differences for the benefit of their teams.

See also: 10 Best K-Dramas Inspired by Webtoons to Watch on Netflix

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