South Korea's Bang is taking gold seriously
South Korea's Bang is taking gold seriously
ATLANTA, Georgia (DPA): South Korean women's badminton
champion Bang Soo-hyun is the daughter of a popular comedian, but
her dream of an Olympic gold medal is no laughing matter.
"I am very confident of getting a gold medal," the 23-year-old
silver medalist at the 1992 Barcelona Games said after
eliminating Indonesia's Olympic champion Susi Susanti in the
semifinals on Tuesday.
Bang has helped put badminton in the public eye in Korea,
where traditionally other sports such as soccer and baseball are
more popular.
Her performances at the 1992 Games - when badminton was making
its Olympic debut - were covered closely by national television
and turned her into an overnight star. She is "one of the nicest
ladies to ever grace the badminton court", says World Badminton
magazine's Roy Ward.
The domestic game is not that popular, said sports reporter
Yoon Chun-suk of Seoul Broadcasting System television. "But
because of television, badminton has become an Olympic sport.
Bang has really helped awareness of the game. When she walks down
the street, she is recognized by everybody."
Her father, Bang Chung-pyung, is also well-known in Korea as a
professional comedian, but his script these days is devoted to
supporting his daughter's sporting career.
Bang did not start playing badminton until she was 11 - her
final opponent Mia Audina of Indonesia had a racket in her hand
at the age of three - when a teacher saw the possibilities.
She has since won a number of Asian titles and this year beat
China's Ye Zhaoying for the All England Championships. Now ranked
third in the world, her big aim is the Olympic title. "I keep
praying I'm going to get a gold medal," she said.
After the Games, she intends to pursue a masters degree,
having already obtained a degree at the Korean University of
Physical Education in Seoul. She also likes going to the cinema
and enjoys rock music and ballet.
But right now, badminton takes first place. "My life is
dedicated to badminton and it is not complicated by boy friends,
but it could change after the Olympic Games when I must think
about my future," she said recently.