Why “Volleyball Empress” Kim Yeon-kyung (36-Hungkuk Life) decided to extend her career.

Kim announced her intention to extend her career after winning the Dodram 2023-2024 V-League MVP award for the sixth time in her career at the Grand Ballroom of The K Hotel Seoul in Yangjae-dong, Seoul, on Aug. 8.

When asked by the host on the podium whether she would extend her career, Kim replied, “I didn’t expect to be asked that question here, but I thought about it a lot, and I also talked to Heungkuk Life, and I decided to challenge myself one more time for the sake of many fans next season.”

In an official interview after the awards ceremony, the volleyball player revealed the specific reasons for her decision to extend her career.

“I made a decision in the middle of the season and played the season. The results were not good again, but regardless of that, I talked a lot with the club officials, the coach, my family, and friends, and thought a lot about what would be best. 바카라사이트 The fans supported me a lot and my personal performance this season was better than last season, so I decided to extend my career,” she explained.

Kim continued,

“There were a lot of people around me who encouraged me and told me that I should play a little more. The biggest thing was the support of the fans. The biggest thing was that there are still a lot of people who want to see me play volleyball. I don’t know how I’ll feel next season, but I’m going to do my best and show them that I’m at the top of my game,” she said.

Kim returned to Korea for the 2020-2021 season after a long overseas stint, and as always, she showed her class as a volleyball queen. She ranked sixth in scoring (775 points), second in attack percentage (44.98%), sixth in serving (0.207 average per set), and fifth in receiving (42.46%), earning her sixth MVP trophy in her career after the 2005-2006, 2006-2007, 2007-2008, 2020-2021, and 2022-2023 seasons. No other Korean player surpassed the 36-year-old Kim in both scoring and offensive totals.

“My record looks good, but I had a hard time this season, but the trainers took great care of me and I was able to take good care of my body. They helped me get through the long journey of the league,” she said, adding, “I will do my best to show my best in the league next year with the help of many people.” She reflected on the season and shared her resolve for next season.

However, Kim’s return to the V-League was not accompanied by a trophy.

In 2020-2021, the team finished second in the regular season and advanced to the championship game through the playoffs, but fell to No. 1 GS Caltex in three games, and in 2022-2023, the team finished first in the regular season but lost to ‘underdog’ Korea Expressway Corporation in a three-game upset. In the 2023-2024 season, the team again finished second in the regular season and entered the playoffs, heading to the championship game, but never beat No. 1 Hyundai E&C.

“We lost the championship this season,” Kim said. We finished second in the championship last year, and we finished second again this year, so I think next season will be more pressure. But we have to overcome and show that we can win again,” Kim said.

“I think it’s funny that a player who is at the end of his career is aiming for the championship and individual title, but I hope there will be more competitors next year, especially among domestic players. I think if I try to keep up with them, we can improve each other,” she said, adding, “I want to retire when I’m at the top, when it’s good, and the picture I’m drawing is similar to that.”

Kim also said that if she decides to retire,

She plans to announce it in advance and share her final journey with her fans, just as Lee Seung-yeop, the “National Hitter,” and Lee Dae-ho, the “No. 4 hitter of Korea,” did in baseball. 사설 토토사이트 If that happens, the V-League could also organize a retirement tour.

Kim said, “If this season is my last, I think I should talk about my retirement and play that season. I think I should prepare myself with a lot of people who support me. If I retire, I will tell you in advance and start the season,” she said.