Repeating Asiad basketball glory at Para Games
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Korea’s Gim Dong-hyeon, right, attempts to shoot past a Chinese Taipei defender during their Incheon Asia Para Games wheelchair basketball Group A match at the Samsan World Gymnasium in Incheon, Thursday. / Yonhap
Prolific scorer gives momentum to South Korean wheelchair basketball campaign at Incheon Para Games
By Nam Hyun-woo
Four wins in four games. Korean wheelchair basketball players were dominating the competition at the Incheon Asia Para Games, outperforming arch rival Japan and making it into the semifinals.
Leading their stunning campaign is prolific scorer Gim Dong-hyeon, whose confidence and determination for the gold is lifting the spirit of the entire team.
“There is no need to say much (about the remaining games). At any cost, I will win and earn the gold,” Gim told to The Korea Times on Tuesday, a day after his side thrashed Iraq 62-37 in a preliminary group stage game. He scored 19 and collected 11 rebounds during the game.
“This is the best chance for us. The whole team is in good mood, the Para Games is happening on home soil and my teammates are the best men ever,” the 27-year-old said.
As he said, the Koreans have been continuing their sweeping upturn at the Para Games, scheduled from Oct. 18 to 24 at the city of Incheon.
They have taken on Chinese Taipei, Japan, UAE and Iraq in Group A and finished the group stage in the first place. They will face Group B runner-up Thailand in the semifinals today.
Ousting Japan
The highlight of their group stage campaign was a thrilling 59-58 win over Japan. Gim also raised his side to clinch a come-from-behind victory in the game, scoring 24 and collecting 18 rebounds.
“Unlike a game with Japan in July, we fought a hard battle in the first quarter this time,” Gim said. “I think we were so nervous and had a problem in teamwork, but we relaxed from then and could turn the game favorable to our side.
“I recently caught a cold, so it wasn't my best condition during the game against Japan. But my teammates have assisted to allow me easily attempt shots,” he said.
In July, he played Japan in the 2014 World Wheelchair Basketball Championship at the city and won 60-58. It was one of Korea's few wins against Japan since the sport was introduced into the country three decades ago.
Thanks to Gim's performance, Korea finished the championship in the sixth place, the best result the country ever had.
Gim, who is portrayed as Korea's “star” of the wheelchair sport, has moved to Italy's Santo Stefano from Seoul Metropolitan Government Wheelchair Basketball Team last year and now plays for Jeju Provincial Government's team, where he was born.
He has been thinking about which foreign club he should join next.
“Currently, nothing has been decided, but I don't think I will go outside of Korea in near future, because of my seven-month-old daughter and the spread of Ebola virus,” he said of his career down the road.
“I feel so good about this competition. Most of all, controlling myself to not get nervous and feel comfortable about matches is important, “ he said.
He also delivered words of congratulations to the male basketball players who won the gold at the Incheon Asian Games earlier.
“I'm very proud of them as a basketball player. As they did in the Asiad, I will try my best to follow their achievements in the Para Games,” Gim said.