[단독]Ahn Se-young does not attend the association’s award ceremony, “Family gathering for treatment of injuries… Kim Won-ho also undergoes military training”

‘Badminton Queen’ Ahn Se-young (22, Samsung Life Insurance) was unable to attend the national team award ceremony hosted by the Korea Badminton Association. After Ahn Se-young criticized the association and the management of the national team immediately after winning the women’s singles gold medal at the Paris Olympics last August, interest in this award ceremony was drawn as a clue to resolving the conflict, but she ultimately failed to attend.

An official from Ahn Se-young’s side said in a phone call with CBS Nocut News on the 27th, “Ahn Se-young will not be able to attend the association’s award ceremony.” He then explained, “The injury rehabilitation treatment program schedule was already set in the morning, and there was a family gathering previously planned in the afternoon, so unfortunately I was unable to attend.”

The association will hold an award ceremony for the national team at the Arena Hotel in Miryang-si, Gyeongsangnam-do on the 30th. The explanation is that the decision was made taking into account the fact that the ‘Woncheon Yonex Korea Junior Tournament’ is being held in Miryang and that the national team’s strengthening training is completed on this day.

However, on this day, a situation occurred where Ahn Se-young, the main character of the award ceremony, could not attend. Ahn Se-young won the first singles gold medal at the Paris Olympics last August since Bang Bang-hyun at the 1996 Atlanta Games. If Ahn Se-young, who has emerged as a national star, is left out, the shine of the awards ceremony will inevitably fade somewhat.

Coincidentally, Kim Won-ho (25), a member of the same team who won the silver medal with fighting spirit at the Paris Olympics, also did not attend the award ceremony. Kim Won-ho won a silver medal in the mixed doubles match with Jeong Na-eun (24, Hwasun County Office) despite vomiting. However, because he is receiving military training according to military service benefits, he will not be able to attend the award ceremony.

Instead, Samsung Life Insurance director Gil Young-ah received the award at the awards ceremony. Coach Gil is the mother of Kim Won-ho and is a legend who won a gold medal in mixed doubles and a silver medal in women’s doubles at the Atlanta Olympics. This official said, “It was unfortunate that the schedule was unavoidable, but we conveyed this information to the association.”

Ahn Se-young’s so-called bombshell remarks during the Paris Olympics caused a huge stir in Korean badminton. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism investigated the association and recommended that the national team’s bad habits be eliminated and individual sponsorship be allowed. The association also issued a press release on the 23rd, saying, “We conducted interviews with national team players, held briefing sessions, actively collected opinions, and revised some of the absurd national team management guidelines.” “We are coordinating opinions by holding three meetings to change the contract provisions to reflect this,” he said.

However, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the association have not yet reached a complete consensus. The association must file an objection to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s correction plan by the 30th of this month.

It is also difficult to say that the awkward atmosphere between Ahn Se-young and the national team coaching staff has been resolved. Ahn Se-young showed signs of discomfort with coach Kim Hak-gyun and coach Seong Ji-hyun at the Denmark Open last month.

Therefore, it was expected that this award ceremony would be the beginning of resolving the conflict between Ahn Se-young, the association, and the national team. The association plans to pay 300 million won in reward money to the entire team, including 100 million won to Ahn Se-young and 50 million won each to Kim Won-ho and Jeong Na-eun.

However, with Ahn Se-young and Kim Won-ho unable to attend due to unavoidable circumstances, the awards ceremony seemed to be missing the main characters. However, the association’s position is that it will coordinate opinions to ensure Ahn Se-young’s attendance at the award ceremony until the end. An official from the association said, “There are not many Olympic medalists, so it would be great if Ahn Se-young came,” adding, “If it doesn’t work out, she will receive the award on her behalf, but we are working hard to have her come herself.”

Ahn Se-young attended last year’s award ceremony and smiled brightly, expressing her ambition to “win an Olympic gold medal next year.” It is expected that it will still take more time for the gap between Ahn Se-young and the association to be narrowed.

CBS No Cut News Reporter Lim Jong-ryul [email protected]

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