Kim Dan-bi (33-Woori Bank), who has been the “ace” of South Korea’s women’s basketball team, had a spectacular finale as she led her team to victory in their final game at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games .Kim scored 21 points and grabbed six rebounds alongside Park Ji-soo (KB-25 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists) to lead South Korea to a 93-63 victory over North Korea in the bronze medal game at the Hangzhou Asian Games on Friday at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium in Hangzhou, China. Kim Dan-bi, who announced her retirement from the national team after the tournament, played a key role in the final game .After scoring just two points in the first half, Kim exploded for 13 points in the third quarter alone, including three three-pointers. That helped South Korea score a whopping 19 straight points after 42-42 early in the third quarter to seal the win and take home the bronze medal with pride. Kim’s eyes were moist when she met her “last flame”. “I didn’t cry,” she initially denied, “but it was because the kids next to me kept saying, ‘You’re crying,’ and I don’t know why they’re crying,” she said. “But at the end, (Lee) said that my sister and I were the last ones, and my teammates left us pictures, so I cringed and cried a little bit,” he laughed. Kim Dan-bi said, “In the first half, our offense was so bad, and when we shot, it didn’t feel like it went in. “I told the players, ‘It didn’t go in in the first half, so it will go in in the second half. Let’s shoot again,’ and once one started going in, it was a confidence booster, and it was like the floodgates opened,” he said. “I think today’s game will be in the ‘top three’ of my national team games,” he said, adding, “I think it’s more special for Korea because we played North Korea in the last game .”Kim also made waves after the semifinal loss to Japan on March 3, when she gave an interview in which she called for the stagnant Korean women’s basketball program to be overtaken by Japan .”After that interview, I wondered if I was being too pushy,” he said, “but people around me said I did a good job. I thought, ‘Someone has to say something like that,’ so I said, ‘I’m going to do it. “I hope the juniors will try harder and win a gold medal next time instead of a bronze,” she encouraged .”I can’t play anymore, it’s too hard,” Kim said with a smile. Another veteran of the national team, Lee Kyung-eun (36, Shinhan Bank), also said goodbye to the Taegeuk Mark after this game .At the official post-match press conference, Lee said, “I’ve been back for about eight years, and I’m grateful to the coach for allowing me to be here. I had some regrets at the end of each match, but it was a happy time because I won the beauty of Yujong,” she cried .Lee’s words brought tears to the eyes of Korean national team coach Chung Sun-min, who was sitting next to her.” I’m grateful to the players for achieving the beauty of Yujong,” said Chung, whose contract ends after the Asian Games. “I think it’s something the new coach will have to think about after the veterans retire.” Park Ji-soo (KB), the ‘pillar’ of the national team, said, “It’s too bad that my sisters are retiring. We cried together, telling each other not to cry. I want to say thank you for your hard work.” “Now I have to work with the younger 스포츠토토존 players, but I think the future is the problem.”
