If you’re anything like me, then you’ve probably spent the last few weeks hooked on 트라이: 우리는 기적이 된다 and are already mourning its end. It is never easy to say goodbye to a drama that feels so real. This show has been such a sweet surprise—comforting, sweet, and bubbly in the way that’s so much too infrequent. It’s a kind of tale that stays with you, and that’s the reason why I went on the hunt for a Kdramas like The Winning Try in an effort to keep the same kind of magic going even as this one wraps up.
The Winning Try is the story of Ju Ga-ram, a former star rugby player whose career was ruined on the basis of a drug scandal. Three years on, he returns to his previous high school, no longer a player but the coach of a flailing rugby team teetering on the edge of disbandment.
Along the way, he runs into his former girlfriend Bae I-ji, and the two of them struggle through the dense sports politics of high school sports as they attempt to restore interest in a team that has known nothing but defeat. Directed by Jang Yeong-seok and starring Yoon Kye-sang, Im Se-mi, and Kim Yo-han, it’s as much a drama about love and redemption as it is about rugby.
What distinguishes the show from being merely a sports genre, however, is gritty-around-the-edges humanity—to see imperfect people get up again, to see young athletes speak out, and to see a humbled coach rediscover his love of life. It’s sentimental, it’s humorous, it’s uplifting, and it never pulls punches on tough issues, whether it’s high school politics, brother rivalry, or the physical toll of an extreme sport. No surprise that people have been labelling it promising, inspirational, and a lesson-filled show. So if you’re craving Kdramas such as The Winning Try, here are five more shows with the same grit, second-chance passion, and heart.
Best Sports Kdramas Like The Winning Try
Fight for My Way
Fight for My Way traces the journey of Ko Dong-man (Park Seo-joon), once a taekwondo champion who lost his way after being crushed by a defeat, and Choi Ae-ra (Kim Ji-won), his childhood friend and an aspiring TV anchor. Both are underdogs in their own way, trying to shatter the drabness of life and revive their lost dreams. Like Ju Ga-ram, Dong-man too has his own redemption of a sort, battling not only enemies, but also internal self-doubt as well as the disapproval of society.
I’d argue this because it uses the same underdog spirit that makes Try: We Become Miracles so compelling. It’s amongst the best sports K-dramas because it’s not about medal wins but about struggling for your own worth. Park Seo-joon and Kim Ji-won’s romantic lead is bearable enough, but the real gem is the element of resilience. As rugby in The Winning Try is not merely a game—it’s an arena for learning, for camaraderie, and for believing in oneself—taekwondo is so in this show.
Racket Boys
This heartwarming sports drama is all about a bunch of misfit teenagers coming together to make up for a badminton team in the countryside. Led by Tang Joon-sang’s Yoon Hae-kang and Son Sang-yeon’s Bang Yoon-dam, the ensemble injects new life into the story of the youth’s dreams and the countryside struggles. The friendships of the teammates, quirky humour, and mentoring in the hands of their mentor capture the same upbeat atmosphere that defines Kdramas similar to The Winning Try.
I loved Racket Boys because it’s bright and optimistic, the kind of show that puts a smile on your face after every episode. It’s the perfect pick if you’re in the mood for uplifting Korean sports dramas with a gentle but serious touch. As with Try: A Miracle in Us, rugby isn’t just a sport here—it’s about people, friendship, and happiness in small things.
Also Read: Aema Review: Bold Exploration of Women in Cinema, Exploitation, and the Cost of Fame
Love All Play
Known as The Speed to You Is 493 km, the drama stars Park Ju-hyun and Chae Jong-hyeop as elite badminton players with professional and life disappointments. The drama tracks the path of Ju Ga-ram in its portrayal of players haunted by previous disappointments and attempting to reclaim in a ruthless world. The romance is pleasant but never takes greater centrality than the general theme of attempting to pursue dreams with persistence.
What I love about this series is the way it depicts the high of the thrill of sport and emotional depth. Seeing the characters pursue their aspiration despite injury and heartache made me understand why Korean dramas like The Winning Try are so motivational. The series is just one of those underrated Kdramas about sports that so deserve to be loved more—it’s finding hope once again in spite of life pushing you away.
Hot Stove League
This is different from the others because this is not about the players but about the backstage struggle to deal with a losing baseball team. Namgoong Min gives a tour-de-force performance as general manager Baek Seung-soo, who is given the ostensibly impossible task of saving a losing team. The subject of second chances, leadership, and fighting politics is familiar to Ju Ga-ram’s struggle.
This drama is clever, funny, and heartwarming. If high school politics and team rivalries in Korean dramas like The Winning Try get you on the edge of your seat, then you’ll be as captivated as I was with Hot Stove League. It’s not just a baseball drama—it’s one of the most witty sports-themed Korean dramas, with strategy, grit, and belief in people when nobody else will.
Twenty-Five Twenty-One
Set against the backdrop of the late 1990s, this drama tells the story of Na Hee-do (Kim Tae-ri), a determined fencer striving to realise her dreams, and Baek Yi-jin (Nam Joo-hyuk), a young man whose world is shattered by the demise of his family. Their love story unfolds as they fight for ambition and the volatile nature of their teenage years in an era of upheaval. It is not a sports team drama, but its obstinacy and sentimental coming-of-age story speak so much to Teurai: Urineun Gijeoki Doenda.
I adored this drama for how it brings so beautifully to life the bittersweet mix of coming of age, chasing one’s dreams, and facing the harsh realities of the world. If you were swept away by the emotional centre and life lessons of this drama, then Twenty-Five Twenty-One is a definite must-watch. It’s also one of the most emotional K-dramas to binge, which also encourages us that even when dreams shift, the journey is worthwhile.
Let us know about your favourite drama among these in the comments below.
Also Read: The Winning Try Episode 1-2 Review: Regret, Redemption, and Rugby Fuel Comeback
