South Korean volleyball star Kim Yeon-koung finalized her retirement from worldwide play on Thursday, following a gathering with the top of the game’s nationwide governing physique.

The Korea Volleyball Affiliation (KVA) introduced that Kim reaffirmed her determination to go away the nationwide staff in a gathering with KVA President Oh Han-nam earlier Thursday.

Kim had first revealed her plans to retire from worldwide play on Sunday, moments after South Korea’s loss to Serbia within the bronze medal match of the Tokyo Olympics.

However after arriving again residence on Monday, Kim left the door barely open for a potential return, saying she must talk about her future with Oh earlier than finalizing her determination.

Oh had beforehand mentioned, whereas he wished the 33-year-old participant to remain on, he would additionally respect Kim’s needs.

Kim is extensively considered the best volleyball participant ever to come back out of South Korea. She made her senior nationwide staff debut in 2005 and single-handedly turned South Korea into a global drive.

With Kim main the assault, South Korea reached the semifinals at two of the previous three Olympic Video games and received gold medal on the 2014 Asian Video games.

South Korean volleyball star Kim Yeon-koung speaks to reporters at Incheon Worldwide Airport, west of Seoul, on Aug. 9, 2021, after returning residence from the Tokyo Olympics. (Yonhap)

Kim, who will proceed her membership profession with Shanghai Shiny Ubest in China, thanked her coaches and teammates she has had over the previous 16 years.

“I would not be the participant that I’m at the moment with out them,” Kim mentioned in a press release launched by the KVA. “The time I’ve spent on the nationwide staff has been actually significant to my life. I’ve loved it a lot. Although I’m leaving now, I imagine the brand new era of gamers will proceed to do the nation proud.”

Oh mentioned he was grateful for Kim’s devotion to the nationwide staff.

“As the top of the nationwide federation, I’ve been extraordinarily lucky to have met such a fantastic participant,” Oh mentioned. “Part of me needs that she would play for the nation a little bit longer, however she has already completed a lot. I ought to respect her future plans and her determination to retire from the nationwide staff. I’ll proceed to cheer for her for the remainder of her taking part in profession.”

The KVA mentioned it proposed a retirement ceremony for Kim however the participant wished to have it after her membership profession finishes.

In Tokyo, Kim carried the underdog South Korea on her again to an unlikely run to the ultimate 4. South Korea had a few five-set victories within the preliminary spherical, together with a thriller over Japan, to achieve the quarterfinals. South Korea, which entered the Olympics ranked 14th on this planet, then upset world No. 4 Turkey within the quarterfinals in one other five-setter, earlier than shedding to No. 2 Brazil within the semis after which No. 6 Serbia within the bronze medal match.

She completed second general with 136 factors in Tokyo. (Yonhap)