ants
04-03-2005, 12:02 PM
Another great man was on the verge of quitting the game, but Kim Dong Moon has not yet officially announced that he is to retire, even if he had previously hinted he would stop badminton after the Olympic Games in Athens, where he left with a gold medal around his neck.
The legend now faces a great deal of pressure from his Federation and fans, who still want him to play for the national team to keep up the standard while some of his best team mates have retired. A pressure he had started feeling back when he won his first Olympic Gold medal, in the mixed doubles event in Atlanta 1996 with Gil Young Ah against a certain.... Ra Kyung Min...
"We then started winning everything with Ra Kyung Min, my new partner, and everybody expected us to win. If we won, it was normal, if we lost, that was not normal, and it is difficult to live for an athlete," said Kim Dong Moon, taking some time to answer our questions in the stands of the recent Korea Open. There, the man looked relaxed, bowing from time to time to all the young players who have the greatest of respect for him, for his status and his class. No wonder the man was relaxed: it was the first time in 15 years of badminton that he taken some time off.
"Ever since the Olympics, I have not practised; I needed to rest, to think it over,??said Kim, who, oddly enough, was not such a good player when he was younger. "I was too fragile to be good, and when I won, it was mainly thanks to my partners!??he laughed, pointing at his friend and doubles partner, Ha Tae Kwon. "I have been very lucky to have found always the right partners, with Ha Tae Kwon and Ra Kyung Min," said the humble man.
Ha and Kim have been playing with each other since they were 12 years old, in middle school, and have never been apart, until that golden moment in Athens, after which Kim decided to take some time out to think. Ha Tae Kwon, on his side, is trying a new partnership with Yim Bang Eun, but doesn't want to give any pressure to his best friend.
"Now we are officially divorced!?" Ha started saying in a laugh. "No, seriously, I don't want to influence his decision, to come back or not. It's his choice and I will respect that," said Ha after his Korea Open defeat with his new partner.
Kim Dong Moon, on his side, wants to enjoy life. "I have done mostly badminton in my career, and now I want to take some time to do other things too, like finishing my masters degree at my university, and travel abroad to learn English, in exchange - why not? - of a coaching position.
"But I'm still undecided about my future on court. I don't want to play under pressure and have everyone expecting me to win. That was very tough on us with Ra Kyung Min, when we lost in two crucial matches, at the Sydney Olympics and in Athens last summer. This will still remain a big mystery for us,??said Kim, with a glimpse of nostalgia when talking about these only black spots on an otherwise extraordinary career...
The World Championships are only months away, and the world ranking points taken in Athens could not be sufficient for the great friends to qualify for the event, should they want to play..
Kim will then have to make a quick decision, that everyone will be awaiting, as he definitely is one of the "Masters" of the game and could come back and win any title if the mind follows...
The legend now faces a great deal of pressure from his Federation and fans, who still want him to play for the national team to keep up the standard while some of his best team mates have retired. A pressure he had started feeling back when he won his first Olympic Gold medal, in the mixed doubles event in Atlanta 1996 with Gil Young Ah against a certain.... Ra Kyung Min...
"We then started winning everything with Ra Kyung Min, my new partner, and everybody expected us to win. If we won, it was normal, if we lost, that was not normal, and it is difficult to live for an athlete," said Kim Dong Moon, taking some time to answer our questions in the stands of the recent Korea Open. There, the man looked relaxed, bowing from time to time to all the young players who have the greatest of respect for him, for his status and his class. No wonder the man was relaxed: it was the first time in 15 years of badminton that he taken some time off.
"Ever since the Olympics, I have not practised; I needed to rest, to think it over,??said Kim, who, oddly enough, was not such a good player when he was younger. "I was too fragile to be good, and when I won, it was mainly thanks to my partners!??he laughed, pointing at his friend and doubles partner, Ha Tae Kwon. "I have been very lucky to have found always the right partners, with Ha Tae Kwon and Ra Kyung Min," said the humble man.
Ha and Kim have been playing with each other since they were 12 years old, in middle school, and have never been apart, until that golden moment in Athens, after which Kim decided to take some time out to think. Ha Tae Kwon, on his side, is trying a new partnership with Yim Bang Eun, but doesn't want to give any pressure to his best friend.
"Now we are officially divorced!?" Ha started saying in a laugh. "No, seriously, I don't want to influence his decision, to come back or not. It's his choice and I will respect that," said Ha after his Korea Open defeat with his new partner.
Kim Dong Moon, on his side, wants to enjoy life. "I have done mostly badminton in my career, and now I want to take some time to do other things too, like finishing my masters degree at my university, and travel abroad to learn English, in exchange - why not? - of a coaching position.
"But I'm still undecided about my future on court. I don't want to play under pressure and have everyone expecting me to win. That was very tough on us with Ra Kyung Min, when we lost in two crucial matches, at the Sydney Olympics and in Athens last summer. This will still remain a big mystery for us,??said Kim, with a glimpse of nostalgia when talking about these only black spots on an otherwise extraordinary career...
The World Championships are only months away, and the world ranking points taken in Athens could not be sufficient for the great friends to qualify for the event, should they want to play..
Kim will then have to make a quick decision, that everyone will be awaiting, as he definitely is one of the "Masters" of the game and could come back and win any title if the mind follows...