[Go! Tokyo!] ‘Gold Medal Collector’ badminton coach Myo-jeong Kim, “Even to secure a budget”

[STN스포츠=반진혁 기자]

The Tokyo Paralympic Games (Paralympic Games) will kick off on the 24th and run for 13 days until the 5th of next month. The Korean team aims to achieve 20th in the overall ranking by participating in a total of 14 sports, including Boccia, badminton, shooting, cycling, swimming, archery, weightlifting, judo, athletics, rowing, table tennis, taekwondo, wheelchair basketball, and wheelchair tennis. Prior to the opening of the tournament, relay interviews of major players and officials in each event are sent out. [편집자 주]

Coach Myo-jeong Kim (49, Ulsan Metropolitan City) of badminton for the disabled said that he had been waiting for a long time to participate in the Paralympic Games.

Disabled badminton had no connection with the Paralympic Games. In the meantime, players and officials from all over the world have emphasized the importance of adoption.

After long aspirations, badminton for the disabled has been adopted as an official Paralympic sport, and will be shown for the first time at the Tokyo Games.

Badminton for the disabled is divided into participation levels, and the wheelchair class is classified into WH1: spinal cord disorder (thoracic vertebrae) and WH2: spinal cord disorder (lower lumbar spine, lower extremity amputation and other disabilities).

Standing grades (disorders of the lower extremities) are divided into SL3 (brain lesions, meningitis, lower extremity amputation and other disorders), SL4 (muscle disorders, lower extremity amputations and other disorders), SU5 (impaired upper extremity), and SH6 (short stature).

For singles, WH1 (men’s singles, women’s singles), WH2 (men’s singles, women’s singles), SL3 (men’s singles), SL4 (men’s singles, women’s singles), SU5 (men’s singles, women’s singles), SH6 ( Men’s singles), doubles WH1&WH2 (men’s doubles, women’s doubles), and SL3&SL4&SU5 (women’s doubles, mixed doubles) are possible.

Korea is ranked 1st and 2nd in the Tokyo Race World Rankings, so we are expecting gold medals in singles and doubles by Lee Dong-seop and Lee Sam-seop from WH1, and Kim Jeong-jun and Kim Kyung-hoon from WH2.

Coach Myo-jeong Kim was excited to participate in the Paralympic Games for the first time, but said, “This is the moment I’ve been waiting for for a long time. As it is my first appearance, I want to introduce Korea’s badminton. I hope that the players can also achieve good results.”

Then, “I think there are more attractive parts than non-disabled badminton. It would have been better if there were spectators, but I want to show my charm through broadcasting.”

Although it is impossible to fill the first drink, director Kim Myo-jung’s goal was clear. Rather, I looked at the forest, not the trees.

Coach Myo-jeong Kim said, “I want to achieve good results in the Paralympic Games. I have a goal that I hope that this part will work positively and that I will be able to exercise in a better environment by securing a large budget.”

While inflated with the excitement of their first appearance, the news that the Tokyo Paralympic Games will be postponed for one year has been delivered.

Coach Myo-jeong Kim said, “It was difficult to train outdoors, so I focused on home training. It was a difficult situation.”

Lee also couldn’t hide his excitement for a moment, saying, “I’m so glad there is a great space called the Icheon Athletes’ Village. I’m so excited to see the Olympics and think that the opening of the Paralympic Games is just around the corner.”

Director Kim Myo-jeong, who leads disabled badminton, draws attention. From 2017 to 2020, he won more than 50 gold medals, and in 2020 was awarded the Blue Dragon Medal, which is the first grade out of 5 sports medals. Expectations of an outstanding career are heading for the better.

Director Kim Myo-jeong showed humility, saying, “Not only me but all the leaders work hard. I think I’ve been given a good opportunity.”

Finally, he said, “I hope that all players can come back with good results. Paralympic Games, Korea, and badminton fighting.”

◇ Director Kim Myo-jung Profile

▶Affiliation = Jung-gu Office, Ulsan Metropolitan City
▶Date of Birth = Born March 12, 1972
▶Disability type = non-disabled
▶Major career
2010~ Disabled badminton team coach
2013~ Ulsan Jung-gu Office Disabled badminton coach

STN Sports = Reporter Ban Jin-hyuk

[email protected]