31-Year Wait Is Over! Lee and Baek Eye Two Golds at Asian Games

[Anchor]

South Korean badminton women's doubles pair Lee So-hee and Baek Ha-na have claimed the World Championships title, marking the first time a South Korean women's doubles pair has won the championship in 31 years. Riding this momentum, they have announced their ambition to target two gold medals at the upcoming Asian Games.

Reporter Bae Jeonghun met with them.

[Reporter]

Lee So-hee and Baek Ha-na faced a crisis in the round of 16 at the World Championships due to Baek's sudden back pain, but they gritted their teeth, united, and secured the victory.

[Lee So-hee / National Badminton Team : I was mentally preparing for a retirement because I thought we might have to default. I thought, 'Ah, (Ha-na) won't be able to run.']

[Baek Ha-na / National Badminton Team : We almost couldn't play the match, but (So-hee) unni covered for me so well that I think I was able to manage.]

In the final, they defeated China's Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning—their nemesis whom they had met five times this year without a single win—to secure South Korea's first World Championships gold medal in women's doubles in 31 years.

[Baek Ha-na / National Badminton Team : (Our coach) went 'Ahhhh!' I think that's what happened.]

[Lee So-hee / National Badminton Team : Winning against (Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning) in the final itself feels like a positive signal for our confidence.]

Armed with the confidence of reaching the global summit, they are now heading to the Asian Games.

Given the concentration of powerhouse nations in Asia within the sport, they steeled their resolve, noting that the Asian Games can be even tougher than the Olympics.

[Baek Ha-na / National Badminton Team : Honestly, both the Asian Games and the Olympics are difficult, but somehow the Asian Games feel a bit tougher...]

Teaming up with An Se-young, they aim to achieve consecutive titles in the women's team event.

[Lee So-hee / National Badminton Team : (Can we achieve two consecutive team titles?) If we just do well, (laughs) if we just do well.]

They promised to unleash a gold-winning smash in the individual event—where they only managed a silver medal in Hangzhou—and perform their signature piggyback celebration.

[Baek Ha-na / National Badminton Team : (At the Hangzhou individual event) it was disappointing not to win, and since we are representing the Republic of Korea once again, we really want to win the gold medal.]

[Baek Ha-na & Lee So-hee / National Badminton Team : Fighting!]

(Camera input: Hwang In-seok | Video editing: Park Ki-deok | Design: Lee Ga-jin)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.