Coach Joo-bong Park extends contract with Japan national team until 2025

Park Joo-bong, coach of the Japanese badminton national team. [연합뉴스]

Park Joo-bong, 56, who leads the Japanese badminton national team, has extended the contract period until 2025.

On the 26th, the Japanese media including Sports Hochi said, “The Japanese Badminton Association has extended the contract period with manager Park until 2025. It is a policy to entrust the national team’s baton even after the 2024 Paris Olympics.” In addition, “Director Park has an excellent ability to motivate players. There is a strong trust relationship with the players as well as the coaches,” said the Japanese Badminton Association’s position.

Director Park is a masterpiece of badminton around the world. He won the gold medal in men’s doubles at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, and four years later competed in mixed doubles at the Atlanta Olympics and won the silver medal. His relationship with badminton in Japan began immediately after the 2004 Athens Olympics. The Japanese national team’s international competitiveness has been greatly enhanced by introducing a Korean-style national team management method such as a full-time leader system and camp. Japan won a gold medal in women’s doubles at the 2016 Rio Olympics, and its performance soared.

With the renewal of the contract with Park, the Japanese national team will play both the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2024 Paris Olympics under Park’s system. In this regard, director Park said, “I still cannot afford to look into the far future. First, focus on the Tokyo Olympics.”

Sports Hochi reported that “Japan is expecting five medals in the badminton event of the Tokyo Olympics.” This means that Japanese badminton, who experienced the’Park Ju-Bong effect’, established a stable national team operation system by extending the contract with the command tower.

Reporter Song Ji-hoon [email protected]