Lim Sung-jin (KEPCO), Lee Sang-hyun and Kim Ji-han (Woori Card), and Park Kyung-min (Hyundai Capital), all born in 1999, are united on the national team.
The men’s volleyball players born in 1999, dubbed the “99s,” wore the Korean flag side by side. Apogee Lim Dong-hyuk, the most prominent member of the ’99s,’ was absent due to military service. But outside hitters Lim Sung-jin and Kim Ji-han, middle blocker Lee Sang-hyun, and libero Park Kyung-min are back on the national team.
The first 14-player roster for the South Korean men’s national volleyball team, led by head coach Isanaye Ramirez starting this year, includes seven players born in the 2000s. The youngest member of the squad is outside hitter Lee Woo-jin (Monza), who was born in 2005. The average age has dropped. The ’99s are no longer the youngest. 스포츠토토사이트 At the same time, the 99s’ responsibilities have grown.
The team left for Beijing on March 23 for a training camp in China. They played three friendly matches against the Chinese national team. In the first match on the 24th, they lost 0-4 (24-26, 21-25, 14-25, 21-25). On the 29th, the team will travel to Bahrain for the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Challenge Cup.
“It was fun doing new drills,” said Lim. Even though the training period was short, we learned a lot. Everyone’s willing to work hard,” while Lee Sang-hyun said, ”I enjoyed learning new things. Overall, the team atmosphere is good. We will work hard and come back with a smile on our faces,” he said.
Kim Ji-han also said, “Our teamwork has improved a lot since we’ve been working out together, and both the players and coaching staff have prepared hard with one goal in mind. The players are also looking forward to good results,” and Park Kyung-min said, ”We needed to train hard because we had to do a system we hadn’t done before in a short time. We have a lot of young players, so we have a good synergy,” Park added optimistically.
The men’s volleyball team practiced a variety of offensive options. Even in counterattack situations, they worked on a system to avoid monotonous attacks.
“He tried to instill the mindset of doing our best to win, just like in practice,” Kim said of their new coach Ramirez, while Park said, “He’s a very passionate person.”
The ’99s’ gathered without Lim Dong-hyuk. “We don’t have the opportunity to do this together unless we’re on the national team. It’s not easy to do it with your own team. I think it’s fun and makes good memories,” he smiled. “I think it’s the first time we’ve had this combination,” Park said, “I hope Dong Hyuk will come, but I think the four of us should work together to lead the men’s volleyball team.” “I joined the national team last year, but this was a chance for me to get to know the boys a little better. I tried to do my best not to disturb the team, and all the 99s players are good volleyball players. I’ll do my best to keep up with them,” she said.
The ’99s are now the juniors in the national team. Kim Ji-han, who has been training with the juniors, joked, “I used to think, ‘I didn’t do that when I was younger,’” while Park Kyung-min said, “They’re all nice.” “They are good at volleyball,” said Lim Sung-jin.
Korea’s men’s volleyball team hasn’t played in the VNL since joining the tournament in its inaugural year in 2018. The team needs to win the AVC Challenge Cup and top the FIVB Challenger Cup to qualify for the 2025 VNL.
The ’99s were ecstatic to win the AVC Challenge Cup. “I think we should prepare well by facing China first and analyze what we need to improve and how to win,” said Park Kyung-min, while Kim Ji-han added, “We have a great opportunity to go to China and play practice matches with the national team. We will do our best because our goal is to win the Challenge Cup,” he said.
Lee Sang-hyun also said, “I will do my best to go to Bahrain and achieve good results,” and Lim Sung-jin said, “I think all the players have an exceptional mindset and willpower. I am also looking forward to it and everyone is expecting it. I will do my best and come out on top,” she said, expressing her desire to win.
South Korea has been drawn in Group C of the AVC Challenge Cup, which kicks off on February 2. They will be battling for a spot in the quarterfinal playoffs alongside Indonesia and Qatar. South Korea will face Indonesia and Qatar on Nov. 2 and 3.