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| Upon returning to Korea on the 25th, Choo Shin-soo announced that he would like to compete in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. © News1 |
Can Choo Shin-soo (39, Shinsegae) compete in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics? First, my will was confirmed. Baseball coach Kim Gyeong-moon said that the player’s doctor is the most important, but Choo Shin-soo said, “I will go to the Tokyo Olympics” without any hesitation.
Choo Shin-soo, who became the No. 1 player in the Shinsegae Group E-Mart baseball team, expressed his desire to compete in the Tokyo Olympics while returning to Korea through Incheon International Airport on the 25th.
Choo Shin-soo, who has been in the major leagues for 16 years since 2005, wore the Taegeuk mark, finished second in the 2009 World Baseball Classic (WBC) and contributed to the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games gold medal.
However, after that, they were unable to participate in the international competition due to the rejection of their team. In particular, when the 2017 WBC Round 1 was held at Gocheok Sky Dome, Seoul, there was a great desire to join him, but the opposition of the Texas Rangers, the team at the time, was defeated. Choo Shin-soo himself said, “Parents, when will I play baseball in front of Korean fans again?”
However, the possibility of wearing the Taegeuk mark in 11 years increased as Choo Shin-soo liquidated his major league life and decided to go to the KBO league. Although its heyday has passed, it is still considered one of the best Korean hitters.
An official from the baseball team said, “The current national team’s top priority is not to change generations, but to have the best power.”
In March of last year, the baseball team submitted a pre-registration list for the Tokyo Olympics (111 people), but the competition was postponed for one year due to the spread of the new coronavirus infection (Corona 19), so it must be rewritten.
Coach Kim Kyung-moon welcomed Choo Shin-soo to the KBO league, but was cautious about the selection of the baseball team. He emphasized, “You have to honor a star who has a brilliant career in the major leagues,” and “Cho Shin-soo’s will is important.” It meant that if the baseball team first stepped out and said’I’d choose’, it could put a burden on Choo.
Choo Shin-soo solved Kim’s concerns. When asked if he was willing to compete in the Tokyo Olympics, he replied “yes”.
Of course, I did not reserve a seat. As only the best players who will be in the best condition and show the best skills can be convened to the national team,’performance’ should be supported.
Shin-soo Choo said, “Basically, you can become the national team only if you have your grades and skills. It is too early to say it quickly,” he said.
The Tokyo Olympics will start on July 23rd. It remains to be seen what kind of activity Choo Shin-soo will play in the KBO League, where Choo Shin-soo starts the long run on April 3, but if there are no variables such as serious injury, it is highly likely that Kim Kyung-moon will be boarded.