After scoring a goal in the bronze medal ice hockey match at the PyeongChang Paralympics on March 17, Jang Dong Shin shares the joy with Jung Seung Hwan who had the assist. (Kim Sunjoo)
By Korea.net PyeongChang Special Report Team
Gangneung | March 17, 2018
The Korean para ice hockey team won its first-ever medal in the history of Korean para ice hockey at the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Games, wrapping up its great performance in Pyeongchang.
In the bronze medal game against Italy at the Gangneung Hockey Centre on March 17, the Korean team beat Italy 1-0 with a goal by Jang Dong Shin.
Team Korea pushed hard starting in the first period and had twice as many shots on goal. Jung Seung Hwan shot five times in a row as soon as the second period started, and then Jang Dong Shin and Kim Young Sung joined in the offense as well.
However, Italy wouldn’t give up a goal to the Paralympic hosts that easily. Just as the Italian team was pushed back, it would then launch a counteroffensive, fast and furious, and rush back to the Korean goal. However, they were not able to break through goal keeper Lee Jae Woong.
The winner was decided in the final period. Lee Jong Kyung passed the puck to Jung Seung Hwan, and Jang Dong Shin cracked a shot, scoring the winning goal with 3 minutes and 18 seconds left until the end of the game.
Jang Dong Shin scores the winning goal in the third period during the bronze medal ice hockey match at the Gangneung Hockey Centre, at the PyeongChang Paralympics on March 17. (Kim Sunjoo)
When the match ended with Team Korea’s victory, the Korean athletes embraced each other and shed tears. They expressed their gratitude to the audience that cheered for them by lifting their hockey sticks into the air, waving them toward the audience. The winning team also hugged the athletes on the other team.
The Korean team circled the Taegeukgi national flag unfolded on the ice and started singing the national anthem. The crowd, which had yet to leave the rink, sang along.
Para ice hockey player Choi Si Woo said, “I’m so proud of the older brothers on our team who worked so hard for more than 10 years for this day,” in a trembling voice and couldn’t finish his comment.
President Moon Jae-in himself visited the venue to watch the game. President Moon went down to the ice with first lady Kim Jung-sook and Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Do Jongwhan to offer congratulations to the athletes and to pose for commemorative photos with the bronze-winning team.
President Moon Jae-in and first lady Kim Jung-sook pose for a photo with Team Korea after the match against Italy, at the PyeongChang Paralympic Games on March 17. (Cheong Wa Dae)
jesimin@korea.kr
