▲ Kim Yeon-kyung rejoices after successfully attacking Turkey in the women’s volleyball quarterfinals at Ariake Arena in Tokyo on the 4th. 2021.08.04 Tokyo Olympic Photo Collaboration Foundation
Kim Yeon-kyung, captain of the women’s national volleyball team, who advanced to the semifinals after beating Turkey at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in nine years, visited the referee who had a nervous battle with an unfavorable decision during the match and offered a gesture of reconciliation.
Kim Yeon-kyung, who was interviewed after the women’s volleyball women’s quarterfinal match against Turkey at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan on the 4th, had a hoarse voice. Throughout the game, he loudly encouraged his juniors and strongly appealed to the referee’s unfavorable decision.
From the beginning of the match, referee Hamid Alushi made a decision that the Korean national team could feel at a disadvantage.
In particular, when Hyo-Jin Yang’s attack hit the net while leading the game with a 3-set 24-23, which was the winner of the game, the referee Alushi declared a ‘four-hit penalty’ (a penalty that touched the ball 4 times in one camp).
Kim Yeon-kyung protested by waving the net in anger, and referee Alushi gave a yellow card to warn him.
2021.08.04 Tokyo Olympic Photo Collaboration” style=”padding:0px;margin:0px”>
▲ Kim Yeon-kyung receives a red card while protesting the referee’s decision during the women’s volleyball quarterfinal match against Turkey at Ariake Arena in Tokyo on the 4th.
2021.08.04 Tokyo Olympic Photo Collaboration Foundation
After the game, Kim Yeon-kyung said, “I didn’t like the referee’s decision from the first set. The other party protested and made a compensation decision.” “I thought the protest was a valid judgement. In addition, I decided that it would be okay to cut the game once (since Turkey was chasing it),” he said, revealing that the radical protest was a strategic action. Korea was able to win the set score with a dramatic victory despite being judged unfavorably in the 3rd set deuce situation.
Kim Yeon-kyung’s protest came out again in the 4th set not long after. While trailing 2-5, he claimed Turkey’s ‘double contact’.
Referee Alushi took out a red card this time to Kim Yeon-kyung, who was making a fierce protest for the second time. When a red card is received in volleyball, one point is awarded to the opposing team.
Kim Yeon-kyung said, “I didn’t expect a red card,” but said, “In the end, it ended well.”
Korea conceded 4 sets, but won the 5th set dramatically and advanced to the semifinals.
It seemed to end like this, but Kim Yeon-kyung’s skillful deeds did not stop there.
After the game, Kim Yeon-kyung, who stayed at the stadium until late to cool down, approached the game management team.
There was referee Alushi who gave Kim Yeon-kyung a red card.
Reporter Jeong Yeon-ho, Tokyo tpgod@seoul.co.kr” style=”padding:0px;margin:0px”>
▲ ‘Volleyball Empress’ Kim Yeon-kyung roars after successfully attacking in the quarterfinals against Turkey in women’s volleyball at the Tokyo Olympics held at Ariake Stadium in Tokyo, Japan on the 4th.
Reporter Jeong Yeon-ho, Tokyo tpgod@seoul.co.kr
Kim Yeon-kyung met the referee Alushi and shook hands, then pointed to the net and explained the situation during the game again. However, he did not show any discomfort or dissatisfaction at all. Referee Alushi also listened to Kim Yeon-kyung’s explanation.
And soon, Kim Yeon-kyung continued the conversation by shaking hands vigorously as if giving a high-five once again, and ended the conversation with a smile. As he left, he patted referee Alushi on the shoulder and greeted him with a friendly expression.
It was possible that she would have been hurt by receiving a red card while protesting the decision she felt at a disadvantage during the match, but Kim Yeon-kyung was trying to end any misunderstandings that might remain after the match.
He may have considered the possibility of meeting referee Alushi again during the remainder of the match, as well as the possibility that the Korean national team would be hated by all of the Olympic volleyball referees.
The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) also cheered Kim Yeon-kyung. FIVB posted on the official Instagram on the same day, along with Kim Yeon-kyung’s solo photo, “We’ve been talking and talking. Korea’s Kim Yeon-kyung was one of 1 billion people,” he wrote.
The Korean women’s volleyball team will face off against Brazil, the world’s third-ranked powerhouse, to the final on the 6th.
By Shin Jin-ho, reporter sayho@seoul.co.kr
