On the 8th, the last day of the ‘2023 Soft Tennis National Team Qualifying Tournament’ was held, the hard court at the public playground in Sunchang-gun, Jeonbuk. When the women’s singles final was over, Lee Min-seon (25, NH Nonghyup Bank) shed tears she had been holding back.
Lee Min-seon beat Song Ji-yeon (29, Mungyeong City Hall), who is considered the strongest in women’s singles in Korea, with a game score of 4 to 2 and rose to the top. She was the last of the five entries for the women’s national team to wear the Taegeuk mark.
It is an impressive victory for the national team. Lee Min-seon suffered two defeats in the selection match for the Asian Games, one of the biggest soft tennis tournaments so far. 2018 Jakarta-Palembang, last year’s Hangzhou competition was a selection match.
In particular, Lee Min-sun made it all the way to the singles final from the selection round, but ended up in second place. In her selection match held at the same venue last year, she lost 2-4 to Song Ji-yeon, and her participation in the Asian Games seemed to be thwarted. 온라인카지노
But things have changed. The Asian Games were postponed for one year due to Corona 19 and the political situation in China, the host country. Because of this, the selection competition was held again, and Min-sun Lee had a chance.
The process was not easy. Lee Min-seon first entered the doubles with Lee Jeong-woon, a junior from her team, but failed to win in two chances. Lee Soo-jin and Ko Eun-ji of Okcheon-gun Office and Moon Hye-kyung and Lim Jin-ah of NH Nonghyup Bank won the championship and put the Taegeuk mark first.
Lee Min-sun, however, did not miss her last chance. In the singles final with Song Ji-yeon, she put all her skills, such as tenacious defense and exquisite shots, and finally got her last ticket to Hangzhou. It was a valuable result after playing a total of 25 matches, including 13 doubles matches and 12 singles matches.
After the game, Lee Min-seon shed tears and shared joy with her teammates. Team coach Yoo Young-dong and coach Han Jae-won also encouraged, saying, “It must have been difficult both physically and mentally, but I worked hard.” Coach Yoo is also the head coach of the women’s national team.
Lee Min-sun smiled at her, saying, “I’m so happy” even though she was crying. Lee Min-seon, who said, “I was unfortunately unable to participate in the Asian Games due to being placed second in the selections five years ago and last year,” said Lee Min-seon, “I had two chances in the doubles this time, but I didn’t get selected, so I thought the Asian Games had nothing to do with me.”
She did but she didn’t give up. Lee Min-seon said, “But I became more desperate because I thought I would have an opportunity in the final singles match.” She continued, “Since it was difficult for her to participate in the Asian Games, she will work hard to win the gold medal so that she does not become a victim of Korean tennis.”