Jang Dong-shin, who scored a bronze-winning goal in the para ice hockey mixed bronze medal match, talks about the game and the Paralympics in general at the Gangneung Olympic Park on March 17.
By Korea.net PyeongChang Special Report Team
Photo = Park Jang-bhin
Gangneung | March 18, 2018
Just three minutes and 18 seconds before the game ends, it was a 0:0 tie.
Jung Seung-hwan made a quick dash and passed the puck toward the Italian goalpost, which led to a winning goal as Jang Dong-shin didn’t miss the chance to score. As the goal was confirmed, making the score 1:0, Jang Dong-shin and the other players embraced each other with joy.
This scene at the para ice hockey mixed bronze medal match at the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games has become history in the Korean history of para ice hockey. In the center of this historic scene, there is Jang Dong-shin.
The Korea.net Team met with Jang Dong-shin after the bronze medal game on March 17, to hear about the game and the Paralympics in general. In the past, Jang had participated in the Vancouver 2010 Paralympics and the Sochi 2014 Paralympics. He’s also the hero who scored the first goal at the match between Korea and Japan.
– Following your first goal in the match against Japan, today you scored an important goal that determined today’s medal. How do you feel?
As for the match against Japan, I scored the first goal when we were having difficulty in a game that we should have won easily. It was a very pleasant goal, because it became a turning point for the whole team. As for the match against Italy for the bronze medal, I didn’t even realize that I scored a goal until Jung Seung-hwan shouted, “Hey, man, it’s a goal! Goal!” Since it was a bronze-winning goal, I’m happy that I scored it.
– Did you have any specially prepared goal celebration?
First, raising up my right arm, and if I saw my wife in the stadium, holding my hand in a shape of a heart.
– All the players shed tears as they fulfilled their goals. What comments did the players share in the locker room after the game?
There were no tears in the locker room, only cheers and laughter. The coach shouted, ‘You’ve all worked hard for two years. Enjoy this evening as much as possible!”
– Now that the matches are over and that only the medal ceremony is ahead, what are your plans for the future?
I’ve longed for a satisfying ending to the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games, and for another four years of preparation for the next Paralympics. I think my dreams have come true. So I’m very pleased. Now, I’m ready to prepare for the next four years.
– What do the PyeongChang Paralympics mean to the athletes?
A lot of people have shown an interest in the PyeongChang Paralympics, and so I feel like my heart can burst with joy. Thanks to the Paralympics, it seems that a lot of promotion was carried out, The para ice hockey event seems to have become widely known among the public. Since we don’t have any rookie at the moment, we hope that more young people can become interested in the sport.
– In all the para ice hockey matches at the PyeongChang Paralympics, there was a lot of cheering from the spectators. What would you like to say to the fans?
Our para ice hockey team wrote a new page in history at the Gangneung Hockey Centre. It was Korea’s first bronze medal in para ice hockey. A lot of people came to the match and cheered for the team. I think that the final goal was only possible because of that. To me, it was like a goal that was truly lucky. I sincerely thank all the people who cheered together.
pjb921120@korea.kr
