The mixed doubles team of Kim Won-ho (Samsung Life Insurance) and Jung Nae-eun (Hwasun County Government) failed to overcome China to claim the silver medal.
The world No. 8 pair fell 0-2 (8-21 11-21) in the badminton mixed doubles final against No. 1 China’s Zheng Shuwei and Huang Yaichong at the Porte de la Chapelle Arena in Paris, France on Sunday (Feb. 2).
Kim Won-ho and Jung Na-eun, who had earlier defeated their teammates Seo Seung-jae (Samsung Life Insurance) and Chae Yoo-jung (Incheon International Airport) in the quarterfinals, were hoping to win the title against Nae-chin Kim, but they were unable to overcome the difference in quality between the Chinese pair and settled for silver.
It is the 13th medal for South Korea at the Games and the first from the badminton team.
They didn’t win the top spot, but that’s an achievement in itself. The mixed doubles event, which was a strong event until the 2000s, hasn’t been on the podium since Lee Yong-dae and Lee Hyo-jung won gold in Beijing in 2008.
Earlier in the day, Seo Seung-jae and Chae Yoo-jung finished fourth in the bronze medal match, but Kim Won-ho and Jung Na-eun became the first mixed doubles 파워볼게임 team to win a medal in 16 years.
Formed in 2022, the duo hasn’t made a mark on the international scene since winning the Thailand Open in 2023. This tournament didn’t draw much attention either.
It didn’t start well. They went 1-2 in the group stage and faced elimination. However, he made it to the quarterfinals as the second best player in the group with a game in hand, and he persevered to win the silver medal.
Kim Won-ho, whose mother is Atlanta 1996 gold medalist Gil Young-ah, the head coach of Samsung Life Insurance, was aiming to become the first “mother and child Olympic gold medalist” in South Korean sports history, but instead of gold, the duo settled for a shared medal.
Kim Won-ho and Jung Na-eun adopted the same aggressive strategy as the day before when they defeated Seo Seung-jae and Chae Yu-jung. They didn’t stay on the defensive and actively smashed when they got the chance.
However, they were no match for the Chinese. In Game 1, they briefly kept the Chinese on their toes, but the gap soon widened and they lost 8-21.
In game two, they briefly led 4-3. However, they were unable to respond to Zheng Zhiwei’s smashes and the score quickly became 4-9.
Kim Won Ho and Jung Na Eun were unable to fight back from there and finished the tournament in second place.