Yang Hyo-jin Ahead of '18th Season': "Confident, but Not Arrogant"
Yang Hyo-jin Ahead of '18th Season': "Confident, but Not Arrogant"
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Yang Hyo-jin (34, Hyundai Construction), the best middle blocker in the history of Korean women's volleyball, who is entering her 18th season, pledged to help the team win two consecutive championships and 'victory in the central war.'
Yang Hyo-jin, who met with the joint reporting team in Okazaki, Japan on the 27th during her training camp, said, "After winning the championship last season, I realized what the joy of achieving something I desperately wanted is," and "After doing it once, I realized that winning is something I want to do again. I will prepare hard during the training camp in Japan and aim for a second consecutive championship this season."
Hyundai Engineering & Construction won first place in the 2023-2024 regular season and the championship finals, achieving a unified championship for the first time in 13 years since the 2010-2011 season.
Yang Hyo-jin recalled, "I never thought I would win the unified championship, I just wanted to win it at least once," and "When I heard that I had won the unified championship after 13 years, I felt a lot different this time."
He continued, "My physical condition is still not 100%. 스포츠 However, I have changed my mind now," and added, "I think it is something I have to embrace. I have been using it for 18 years, so I think it is just a sign of the passage of time. It was hard at first, but now I just accept it."
The biggest change in the 2024-2025 season, which is two months away, is in the center, which can be called Yang Hyo-jin's 'main stage'.
Teams that need height reinforcement have recruited a large number of tall players from China through the Asian quota, and Yang Hyo-jin (189 cm) is 7 cm taller than him.
Jang Wi (Pepper Savings Bank) and Huang Rui Lei (Heungkuk Life Insurance) are 196 cm tall.
There is also analysis that Yang Hyo-jin, in her mid-30s, may be lacking in strength and stamina in the middle position, which has literally become a 'battlefield'.
However, Yang Hyo-jin expressed confidence.
He said, "First of all, leaving aside the opponent, I think my condition is the most important. The skills of the junior players have improved, and I think our team is a little more balanced," and "I don't mind if there's a battle in the middle position. I'm confident, but I won't be complacent," expressing confidence in victory.
Yang Hyo-jin, who has often mentioned 'retirement', has decided to continue his career as a player a little longer.
Yang Hyo-jin said, "It's true that I've been thinking about retirement for several years now," but added, "I've recently changed my mind. Now, I'm preparing for the season by looking at just one year, one year at a time. In the past, I made long-term plans, but now I've changed my mindset to, 'Let's just get through this season and do well. '"
Until the moment of retirement, which may not be known at any time, Yang Hyo-jin plans to run towards victory.
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