The father was the reason his son Kim Won-jin did judo.

Wonjin Kim won the Masters on the 12th. First major tournament gold medal in her life. However, when I heard the news of my father’s death, I was enthusiastic. [중앙포토]

Judo Masters Men’s 60kg class awards ceremony held on the 12th (Korean time) at Rusail Sports Arena in Doha, Qatar. Winner Kim Won-jin (28th, 12th in the world) smiled brightly. It was the first major tournament gold medal in the Taegeuk mark. However, when he came down from the podium, he had a few words with the men’s judo coach Kum Ho-yeon and suddenly got a fever. He heard the news of his father’s death.

Kim Won-jin’s father, Kim Ki-hyung (55), died abruptly from a myocardial infarction while climbing on the 10th. The family asked the officials of the Korea Judo Association and the national team, saying, “Please do not inform Wonjin until the game is over.” It was because I hoped that Wonjin Kim would be able to finish the international competition he participated in. This is an international competition held 11 months after the Grand Slam in Dusseldorf, Germany in February last year. The International Judo Federation (IJF) has stopped holding the tournament in the meantime due to Corona 19. Masters is a competition in which only athletes within the 32nd place in each weight category participate, and it is a mock test for the Tokyo Olympics (July).

Kim Won-jin is pleased with winning the Masters final. [사진 IJF]

Kim Won-jin played the best game throughout the tournament. In five games until the final, no point was awarded to the opponent. In the final, Yang Yu Wei (Taiwan, 11th in the world) defeated Yang Yu-Wei in 1 minute and 19 seconds. Kim Won-jin, who was on the defensive at the beginning of the game, instantly lie down and put his throwing technique over the game. It is the first major championship since becoming the national team leader in 2013.

Kim Won-jin was the next generation of light-weight prospects, succeeding Choi Min-ho, gold medalist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Starting with the bronze medal at the World Championships in 2015, he has consistently won prizes in the Grand Prix and Grand Slam. Ahead of the 2016 Rio Olympics, it has risen to No. 1 in the world. Is it because of the rapid growth? In the Olympics, he was eliminated early, revealing his lack of experience. After that, I went through a slump. I haven’t worn the Taegeuk mark for a while. Wonjin Kim raised one weight to 66kg in 2017. However, one time in the selection, he was pushed over to Ahn Paul, the strongest in this weight class. It came back to the 60kg level in 2018. Kim Won-jin, who raised his strength by competing with players above one weight class, regained the 60kg level when he returned.

The father, Kim Ki-hyung, was the reason for the induction of Kim Won-jin (right). The father ran wherever his son played. [사진 대한유도회]

The father was the reason Kim Won-jin did not give up the exercise. My father, who worked at an electronic agency in Cheorwon, Gangwon-do, took great care of Kim Won-jin, the eldest son of one son and two daughters. Kim Won-jin started judo in the second year of Shin Cheolwon Elementary School. Father went to any place in the country where his son’s game was held. Kim Won-jin also took a picture when the contest match came out and sent it to his father first.

Cheorwon-gun Judohoe coach Oh Jeong-seok, a gifted student in elementary school, said, “Wonjin said his father,’I really want to see my son grow up and win the Olympic gold medal.’ Also, “Wonjin, who has a deep filial piety, knew that father’s heart well. He always said,’I’ll put an Olympic gold medal on my father’s neck.’

The last time Kim Won-jin saw his father’s face was exactly a month ago. From the 10th of last month until leaving Qatar, he trained in a camp at Jincheon Athlete’s Village. I refrained from going out and staying overnight due to Corona 19. The only thought was that he would give the gold medal news to his family.

The men’s team coach Kum Ho-yeon hopes that Kim Won-jin will win the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics and make his father’s dream come true. [중앙포토]

Director Kum Ho-yeon said, “After the awards ceremony, I delivered the news of my father’s death to Wonjin. At first, I couldn’t accept the situation and my eyes were stiff. After a while, I was sorrowful. Looking at the desperate expression, my heart broke.” . Korean Judo won two gold medals in the competition that day, with Kim Won-jin and Ahn Paul (66 kg). Manager Geum added, “The news must have been shocking, but Wonjin was thinking of the team first. He asked his colleagues to keep the secret of returning to Korea first, in case his teammates remaining in the game would be shaken.”

Kim Won-jin returned home by plane on the morning of the 13th. Balin has already been completed on the 12th. The family plans to bring his father’s ashes at home and move to Jangji with Kim Won-jin when he arrives. Director Geum said, “To Wonjin,’My father wanted to induce harder as it is now, so I need to strengthen myself.” Wonjin said that he knew. “All of the national team pray earnestly.”
Reporter Pee Ju-young [email protected]