Ⓒ JoongAng Ilbo / JoongAng Ilbo Japanese version2022.02.23 15:50
Former LG Twins coach Ryu Joong-il will lead the Korean baseball national team. Challenge the gold medal for the first time in eight years since the 2014 Incheon Asian Games.
On the 23rd, the Korea Baseball Association (KBSA) said, “Director Ryu Joong-il has been appointed as the manager of the baseball national team. I plan to act as a director. “
From January 26th to February 16th, the association recruited national team coach / coach applicants and evaluated them at the meeting of the Competitiveness Improvement Committee on the 21st. The Competitiveness Improvement Committee comprehensively evaluated the Korean national team management plan, competition management ability, leadership ability, etc. submitted by the applicants, and selected Director Yanagi as the right person. The association will finalize the appointment of director Ryu Joong-il at the board meeting next month.
Ryu Joong-il was active as a player, coach and coach at Samsung Lions. He led to an integrated championship for the fourth consecutive year (2011-14), especially as a coach. In 2015, he won the KBO League’s first season for five consecutive years, but finished second in the Korean Series. The following year, he resigned due to poor team performance.
In 2018, he became the coach of the LG Twins and finished in 8th place in the season, but in 19 and 20 he was in 4th place in the league for the second consecutive year and experienced the playoffs. Director Yanagi, who left LG after the three-year contract expired, served as an instructor at his alma mater, Keihoku High School.
Ryu Joong-il has commanded the Korean national team twice so far. Although he was not a full-time coach, he led the 2013 World Baseball Classic (WBC) and the 2014 Incheon Asian Games Korean National Team with the qualifications of last year’s Korean Series championship team coach. Despite his record of 2 wins and 1 loss at the WBC, he lost in the group league and won the gold medal at the Incheon Asian Games.
Baseball at the Hangzhou Asian Games will be played from September 18th to 24th. A total of eight countries, the top six countries in the Asian ranking and the top two countries in the qualifying round, will compete for the gold medal.
In this tournament, two groups of four countries will advance the group league, and the first and second place will advance to the super round. In the super round, we will play against two teams excluding the same team. After that, the 1st and 2nd place will advance to the final by combining the results of the match with the team that advanced together from the group league and the results of the 2 super round games, and the 3rd and 4th place will play the bronze medal deciding match.
KBO has decided not to form the most elite national team at this Asian Games. The schedule of the professional league will not be interrupted. In principle, players who are 24 years old and 3 years old or younger will be selected in addition to the rules of the tournament, and additional overage will be added. There is no age limit in the Asian Games regulations, so there is no overage limit. It is expected that catchers and closer pitchers with international experience will be targeted.
Director Ryu Joong-il said, “I’m honored to wear the national team uniform, but I feel responsible and burdened.” In order to form a national team centered on the above, there is also the issue of discovering and growing the players who will carry the future of the KBO League. ” He continued, “Of course, the goal is a gold medal. I want to show the results to the extent that fans who are disappointed with the results of the recent international competition can be convinced. I want young players to experience the joy of standing at the highest point on the podium. KBO League I hope that a star will be born. ”