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[스포츠서울 | 김경무전문기자] The ‘new combination’ of Korean shuttlecock women’s doubles Lee So-hee (29, Incheon International Airport) and Baek Ha-na (22, MG Saemaul Geumgo). Can they become a new source of vitality for the Korean badminton team, which is aiming for the gold medal at the 19th Hangzhou Asian Games and the 2024 Paris Olympics?
Starting with the German Open, which begins on the 7th (local time), they will go through four European tours, including the Jeonyeong Open (14-19), the Swiss Open (21-26), and the Spanish Masters (28-April 2). Possibilities are tested.
The Korean badminton team, led by coach Kim Hak-gyun (52), went on a European tour on the 4th. Prior to departure, coach Kim said, “There are three groups in the women’s doubles in the national team: Kim So-young (31, Incheon International Airport) – Gong Hee-yong (27, Jeonbuk Bank), Kim Hye-jeong (25, Samsung Life Insurance) – Jeong Na-eun (23, Hwasun-gun Office). They are competing fiercely,” he ordered, “please pay attention to whether young Baek Ha-na and veteran Lee So-hee are active this time.”
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Among the three women’s doubles groups, Kim So-young and Gong Hee-yong, ranked 7th in the world, and Kim Hye-jeong and Jeong Na-eun, 4th, compete only in the German Open and Jeonyeong Open. However, shortly after working together, Lee So-hee and Baek Ha-na, who are ranked 32nd in the world, plan to raise their ranking points and enhance their competitiveness by digesting all four tours.
Coach Kim Hak-gyun said, “Lee So-hee participated in the Olympics twice, but did not win a medal. Because of this, her earnest desire for a medal at the Paris Olympics is stronger than anyone else. She is one hundred and one. She is still young, but her skills are improving.”
Former national team coach Ahn Jae-chang of Incheon International Airport, Lee So-hee’s team, also said, “Baek Ha-na is an ‘all-round player’ and has good stamina. Lee So-hee also has the advantage of continuing the rally for a long time with a similar style. There is competitiveness,” he said, showing expectations.
Hana Baek teamed up with Sohee Lee in October of last year to confirm her potential by winning the silver medal at the Denmark Open. She is the signboard and pride of MG Saemaeul Geumgo (Chairman Park Cha-hoon), which runs both men’s and women’s teams.
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Korean badminton barely escaped from the ‘no medal crisis’ when Shin Seung-chan and Jeong Kyung-eun won a bronze medal in women’s doubles at the 2016 Rio Olympics. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Kim So-young-Gong Hee-yong and Shin Seung-chan-Lee So-hee were candidates for the women’s doubles gold medal. However, both groups lost in the semifinals, so they clashed in the 3rd and 4th place matches, and Kim So-young and Gong Hee-yong took the bronze medal.
With the appearance of Ahn Se-yeong (21, Samsung Life Insurance), world number 2, there is a high chance of winning a medal at the Paris Olympics in women’s singles, but women’s doubles, where three groups compete in good faith, is also considered a strong medal candidate. [email protected]
