Except for Jeon Kwang-in… Korean men’s volleyball team announces 14 players in the Challenger Cup

Jeon Kwang-in (31, Hyundai Capital) is caught in a novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) trap and is unable to compete in the 2022 FIVB Volleyball Challenger Cup held at home.

The Korea Volleyball Association announced the names of 14 Korean men’s volleyball representatives who will participate in the Volleyball Challenger Cup on the 26th.

The name of Left Jeon Kwang-in, who is the core force in karate, was omitted.

Jeon Kwang-in trained with the national team at the Jincheon Athlete’s Village in North Chungcheong Province from the end of May, but was excluded from the final entry as he tested positive for the Corona 19 rapid antigen test on the 25th.

The national team immediately quarantined Jeon Kwang-in, and all players who were training underwent rapid antigen testing. Except for Jeon Kwang-in, no players tested positive.

In a situation where Jung Ji-seok (Korean Air) was suspended from the national team qualification for one year due to an unfortunate incident and could not participate in the Challenger Cup, even the starting left Kwang-in Jeon fell out, making the national team coach Lim Do-heon’s worries even greater.

The Volleyball Challenger Cup will be held from the 28th to the 31st at the Jamsil Student Gymnasium in Seoul.

The goal of the Korean national team is to win.

Korea (currently 32nd), which has to raise the world rankings to participate in the Paris Olympics in 2024, set a difficult goal of ‘to win this tournament and secure a spot in the 2023 FIVB Volleyball Nations League (VNL)’.

There are no opponents Korea can look up to, including Australia (38th), their first match on the 28th.

Cuba (12th), Tunisia (15th), Turkiye (Turkey, 17th), Qatar (21st), Czech Republic (24th) and Chile (27th) are also aiming for VNL qualification.

If Korea wins the quarterfinals against Australia, they will play against the winner of the Turkiye-Qatar match in the quarterfinals.

The Korean national team, who lost Jeon Kwang-in, challenges the ‘difficult goal’ with the strength of the remaining 14 players.

Captain Han Seon (Korean Air) and Hwang Taek-eui (KB Insurance) lead the setter.

Jung Min-soo (KB Insurance) and Park Kyung-min (Hyundai Capital) are responsible for rearguard as Libero.

Left Kwak Seung-seok (Korean Air), Na Kyung-bok (Woori Card), Hwang Kyung-min (Samsung Fire & Marine), Lim Seong-jin (Korea Electric Power Corporation), Light Huo Su-bong (Hyundai Capital), and Lim Dong-hyeok (Korean Air) are in charge of flank attacks.

Shin Young-seok (KEPCO), Choi Min-ho (Hyundai Capital), Park Jin-woo (KB Insurance), and Kim Gyu-min (Korean Air) will stop the first attack with the center.

◇ 2022 Volleyball Challenger Cup Korean national team final entries (14 players)

▲ Setter (2 people) = Susun Han (Korean Air), Taekui Hwang (KB Insurance)

▲ Libero (2 people) = Jung Min-soo (KB Insurance), Park Kyung-min (Hyundai Capital)

▲ Left (4 players) = Kwak Seung-seok (Korean Air), Na Kyung-bok (Woori Card), Hwang Kyung-min (Samsung Fire & Marine), Im Seong-jin (KEPCO)

▲ Light (2 people) = Heo Su-bong (Hyundai Capital), Lim Dong-hyuk (Korean Air)

▲ Center (4 people) = Shin Young-seok (KEPCO), Choi Min-ho (Hyundai Capital), Park Jin-woo (KB Insurance), Kim Kyu-min (Korean Air)

[사진 출처 : 연합뉴스]