Korea’s first badminton team won a silver medal in 16 years. It was thanks to the surprise performance of Kim Won-ho (Samsung Life Insurance) and Jeong Na-eun (Hwasun County Office).
Kim Won-ho and Jung Na-eun, ranking eighth in the world, lost to Zheng Thiwei of China (8-21 11-21) in the badminton mixed doubles final of the 2024 Paris Olympics held at the Port de la Chappelle stadium in Paris, France on Sunday (Korea time). Korea won its first Olympic silver medal since the 2008 Beijing Games (gold, silver and bronze). In all three past events, the team only had one bronze medal.
Kim Won-ho and Jeong Na-eun, who defeated Seo Seung-jae (Samsung Life Insurance) and Chae Yoo-jeong (Incheon International Airport) at the semi-final match on Sunday, were blocked by the Great Wall, the world’s strongest team. However, Kim won a mixed doubles medal again for the first time in 16 years after the 2008 Beijing Games (Lee Yong-dae and Lee Hyo-jung gold medal) 스포츠토토. Kim Won-ho took the podium at the Olympics following his mother, Samsung Life Insurance Co., who became the first champion in mixed doubles at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
Seo and Chae lost to Utah Watanabe (13-21 20-22) and Arisa Higashino of Japan 0-2 in the bronze medal match. Seo and Chae, who won last year’s World Championships, were considered promising contenders but failed to even win a prize. Seo ended the competition without a medal, as she was eliminated from the quarterfinals in men’s doubles with Kang Min-hyuk of Samsung Life Insurance.
Seo said, “I’m sad that the result wasn’t good. My wife supported me a lot, but I’m sorry that I didn’t achieve the result I wanted.” “The athlete who focused and desperately won the medal. I put everything I could into it. Just because the Olympics is over doesn’t mean my life is over, I’ll cheer up.”