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[스포츠서울 | 방콕=김경무전문기자] “I will reproduce the gold medal glory achieved by Lee Kyung-won and Sung Ji-hyeon (current coaches of the women’s national team) 12 years ago.”
The 2022 Thomas-Uber Cup (World Men’s and Women’s Team Badminton Championships) kicked off in Bangkok, Thailand on the 8th and entered a fierce battle for 8 days. The players of the Korean shuttlecock women’s national team threw out their votes boldly before the first match.
Korea Rep. Kim Ga-eun (24, Samsung Life Insurance), Shin Seung-chan (28)-Lee So-hee (28, Incheon International Airport), Shim Yu-jin (23, Incheon International Airport) in the first leg of the 29th Uber Cup Women’s Group D Full League, which started at Impact Arena on the same day Airport), Lee Yu-rim (22, Samsung Life Insurance) – Hana Baek (22, MG Saemaeul Geumgo), and Lee Seo-jin (18, Chungju Girls’ High School) in turn defeated the United States with a 5-0 victory. It’s a fresh start. Five teams played a perfect match, not even giving up a game.
Ahn Se-young (20, Samsung Life Insurance), the women’s singles ace, did not play in the face of the weak United States that day. The match was played in the order of singles, doubles, singles, doubles, and singles. The youngest, Seo-jin Lee, finished the match happily by defeating Natalie Chi 2-0 (21-19, 21-9) in 29 minutes.
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The only time that Korea ever won the Uber Cup was at the 2010 Kuala Lumpur Games in Malaysia. The winning members at that time included Lee Kyung-won (42), Seong Ji-hyeon (31), who is currently coaching the women’s national team, and Lee Hyo-jeong. Coach Seong Ji-hyun became the national team leader this year and is in charge of singles.
In this Uber Cup, Korea belongs to Group D, such as the United States, Canada (10th), and India (11th match), but it seems easy to advance to the quarterfinals. Coach Kim Chung-hoe (56) of the Korean national team said, “We are looking at at least the semifinals. I will try to win,” he said. However, we must overcome the world’s strongest China and Japan.
The Thomas-Uber Cup is held every two years. The last 2020 tournament was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was held in October of last year. In particular, the women left a disappointment in placing 3rd in the 2nd consecutive competition.
The Korean men’s team was also formed in Group A with Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore at the 32nd Thomas Cup. With singles ace Jeon Hyuk-jin (26, Yonex) and Heo Kwang-hee (26, Samsung Life Insurance) leading the way, they are aiming to advance to the quarterfinals at least. [email protected]
