Kim resigns Indian coaching position for personal reasons

The Press Trust of India reported yesterday that Coach Kim Ji Hyun’s leave had become a resignation, given the seriousness of family issues back home.

On Tuesday, the Press Trust of India (PTI) reported that Kim Ji Hyun, who joined India’s coaching staff earlier this year and was credited with being instrumental in P. V. Sindhu’s World Championship title, had resigned from her post due to personal reasons.  The PTI report said that their sources indicated that Kim’s husband had suffered a stroke and will need to convalesce for at least 6 months.

The former Korean Olympian became a free agent late last year when the Badminton Korea Association replaced all but one of their national team coaches and she and Park Tae Sang were both snapped up by the Badminton Association of India in the spring of 2019.  BAI Head Coach Pullella Gopichand confirmed to PTI that Kim had returned to New Zealand and that his organization would have to work quickly to replace her.  The BWF quoted positive comments about Kim’s influence from both Sindhu and Gopichand following the star player’s historic win in Basel in August.

Photo: Badmintonphoto