Unified team to bring sports diplomacy to new heights
By Kim Hyun-bin
The unified Korean women’s hockey team is just hours from their Winter Games debut, which will mark a historic moment in the Olympics, besides record-breaking performances and rising stardom.
The team gained the international spotlight last month after the two Koreas agreed to unify their teams to compete in the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.
“Our team being put together was a political statement but now that the team is together we are just one team,” head coach Sarah Murray said. “Now it is hockey and we are here to compete. It is not an issue for our team.”
The unified team will face its first opponent today _ Switzerland _ at the Gwandong Hockey Center in Gangneung, where three group-stage games will take place.
However, there are concerns that the unified team’s athletes might not be able to find the right chemistry.
“When I heard they were joining our team, I thought worst-case scenario, we are going to be separate, our players are not going to talk,” Murray said. “The chemistry is better than I could have expected.”
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) allowed the Koreas to put together a 35-player roster, including 23 South Koreans and 12 North Koreans, but the 22 players on the game roster need to include at least three North Koreans.
Murray plans to put three or four North Korean players in for the first match.
The athletes are well focused in practice, but during breaks it’s another story, with plenty of laughing and joking.
While the chemistry and solidarity are no longer issues, there still is an obstacle the team needs to resolve _ the lack of experience against international opponents before the Winter Games.
The unified team played its first and only warm-up match against Sweden Sunday, losing 3-1.
However, Korea’s rivals have been involved in matches with other countries.
Since the Swiss arrived in Korea, they have played against ice hockey powerhouses including Canada and Finland.
Even Japan, in the same Group B with Korea, has played Germany and the Czech Republic four times. And world top-ranked Canada has played several warm-up matches that included Switzerland.
The unified team also has some major injuries. Two top forwards Lee Eun-ji and Caroline Park, a Korean-Canadian hockey player, have ankle injuries and might not be able to compete against Switzerland.
“There are a few readjustments to be made due to injuries, but I am satisfied with the preparations we have made,” Murray said.
Korea will take on Sweden Monday and Japan Wednesday.