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[스포츠서울|김경무전문기자] ‘Reproduce the glory of Korean shuttlecocks for generations.’
Korean badminton ‘second generation of legends’ are growing rapidly with the Taegeuk mark on them. Kim Hye-jeong (23, Samsung Life Insurance), who is receiving new attention in women’s doubles, and Kim Won-ho (22, Samsung Life Insurance) in men’s doubles.
First of all, Kim Hye-jeong is the eldest daughter of Jeong So-young (54), who won the women’s doubles gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Jung So-young is a legend who made a golden best friend with Hwang Hye-young at the time and was honored as the first Olympic champion in women’s doubles. In 1991, she dominated an era by winning the women’s doubles title at the All-Young Open.
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Her father (Kim Beom-sik), who was also a badminton player, and Kim Hye-jeong, who inherited her mother’s DNA, have not seen the light of day. This is because there were many prominent seniors in the national team. However, he was selected for this year’s national team, and is currently showing his true value in international competitions.
Kim Hye-jeong paired up with Jeong Na-eun (21, Hwasun-gun Office) in the women’s doubles semifinal of the 2021 Indonesia Masters held last week, and as the first seed, Kim So-young (29, Incheon International Airport) and Gong Hee-yong (25, Jeonbuk Bank), the world’s fourth-largest 2-0 (21-12, 21-18) shocked the badminton world. Kim So-young and Gong Hee-yong were the bronze medalists in the women’s doubles at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in August. The Indonesian Masters was a big tournament for the World Badminton Federation (BWF) World Tour Super 750.
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Kim Hye-jeong and Jeong Na-eun, who were ranked 168th in the world, took a precious silver medal in the finals, although they lost 0-2 (9-21, 11-21) to Nami Matsuyama and Jiaru Shida of Japan in the final. These two are the biggest awards they have won at international competitions. Hyejeong Kim also holds a bronze medal in mixed doubles at the 2016 World Junior Championships. Kim Hye-jeong is the eldest of Jeong So-young’s three daughters, and her younger sisters also play badminton.
Currently, in the women’s doubles of the Korean badminton team, Shin Seung-chan (27)-Lee So-hee (27, above Incheon International Airport) and Kim So-young-Gong Hee-yong are active as ace. Kim Hye-jung and Jeong Na-eun, younger than them, are threatening their stronghold as a promising star. Other competitors include Hana Baek (21, MG Saemaul Geumgo) and Yurim Lee (21, Samsung Life Insurance).
Kim Joong-soo, vice president of the Korea Badminton Association, said about Kim Hye-jung and Jeong Na-eun, “I was hit by the seniors above, and my life as a player was, but after Jung Kyung-eun and Jang Ye-na retired, their skills are improving. We are looking forward to the future.”
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Kim Won-ho, the national men’s doubles team, is the son of the legendary Gil Young-ah (51), Samsung Life Insurance badminton coach, who won the gold medal with Kim Dong-moon in mixed doubles at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Hats belong to the same team.
Kim Won-ho has been working with Kang Min-hyeok (22, Samsung Life Insurance) while wearing the Taegeuk mark, but recently he is partnering with Choi Sol-gyu (26, Yonex). Sol-gyu Choi and Seung-jae Seo (24, Samsung Life Insurance) have been active as men’s doubles ace for a long time, but the coaching staff of the national team is trying to change due to poor performance.
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Kim Won-ho and Choi Sol-gyu competed in the men’s doubles at the 2021 Indonesian Open (BWF 1000), which is currently being held, and passed the first round and advanced to the round of 16. [email protected]
