KUALA LUMPUR – Kim Sang-ryul has made it clear that he will not return to his homeland without helping China win a gold medal in the men’s hockey event at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The 69-year-old’s declaration came after his recent appointment as the senior consultant for China’s men’s team by the Chinese Hockey Association (CHA).
His mission now is to ensure that the national team qualifies for the world’s biggest multisport event after missing out on this year’s Paris edition.
Having played a pivotal role in leading the Chinese women’s team to a silver medal finish at the Paris Olympics, Sang-ryul admitted there’s a lot of work to be done for the men’s team to claim gold in LA 2028.
Speaking to Scoop, Sang-ryul shared his ambitions to develop top players for the nation in the next four years.
“I have been in this country for nearly 20 years, and I have never seen the level of dedication shown by players here compared to the rest of the world.
“All the players, both men and women, have a lot of potential and possess an unwavering urge to keep learning and improving. I have already achieved what I wanted with the women’s team, and now it’s time to fully focus on the development of the men’s team.
“It’s definitely going to take some time to reach the level of one of the best men’s teams in the world, but we do have the potential and will continue to produce the best talents for this country.
“We have already begun our work with the men’s team, and the future is bright for them in the next four years. Though I am at the age where many retire from the game, I have no plans of settling down and returning to South Korea. I will not stop working until the men’s team wins a gold medal at LA 2028,” said Sang-ryul when contacted.
Known as one of the best coaches in the world through his aggressive coaching style, Sang-ryul is well-known for his 4-3-3 and 4-5-1 systems, where he aims for his players to always burst onto the flanks instead of moving in relatively flat lines.
The Korean guided China’s men’s team to silver at the 2006 Doha Asian Games and the women’s team to fifth place at the 2012 London Olympics.
The Chinese men’s hockey team is currently ranked number 23 in the world with 1,395.98 points. – August 21, 2024
