'As a brilliant lead in the role of Namyeongdan'Boccia's individual silver medal, Jung Sung-joon's sequel preview, "I won't miss the team event 金"

Sep 02, 2024

Jung Sung-joon (center) of the Korean boccia national team shouts after winning the semifinals of the men's individual boccia (BC1) at the Paris Paralympics at Sud Paris Arena 1 in France on the afternoon of the 1st (Korea time). Presented by the Korea Sports Council for the Disabled

No one knew his name.

Boccia Individual (Sports Grade BC1) Final at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. There was no such modifier as 'World Champion'Medalist' that is commonly used when introducing players. It was simply called 'Jung Sung-joon, Korea'. In international competitions, especially in individual competitions, it was thoroughly 'unknown player'.

However, Jung Sung-joon (46, Gyeonggi-do Provincial Boccia Federation) of the Korean Boccia national team did not care. He just silently threw the ball for his wish and goal of winning a Paralympic medal. At last the dream came true. Even though it was not a gold medal, she won a silver medal that was blindingly shiny. Now he is no longer an unknown player. She is the silver medalist in the individual boccia at the Paris Paralympics, and she is the shining lead.

Jung Sung-joon won his first individual medal at the Paralympics. At 6:40 p.m. on the 1st (Korea time), he faced John Leung of Hong Kong in the final of the Boccia Men's Singles (BC1) at South Paris Arena 1 in Paris, France. I did my best, but I lost 1-4 (0-20-10-1-0).

It is Jung Sung-joon's first medal at the Paralympics. At the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, he ranked 10th in the individual event (BC1) and 7th in the team event (BC1,2). In the international boccia stage, Jung Sung-jun has been thoroughly 'Unmyeong' and 'Danct'. The gold medal in the team event (BC1, 2) at the 2022 World Boccia Championships in Brazil was the first medal won by Jung Sung-joon at an international competition. In the individual competition on the international stage, let alone a medal, he was not even ranked in the rankings.

However, at the Paris Paralympics, Jung Sung-joon was in the spotlight. All eyes on the stadium were focused on the final stage.

Jung Sung-joon (center) of the Korean boccia national team carefully targets the target in the semifinals of the men's individual boccia (BC1) at the Paris Paralympics at Sud Paris Arena 1 in France on the afternoon of the 1st (Korea time). Presented by the Korea Sports Council for the Disabled

The game was full of tension. They fought a tight hand fight. Boccia is a sport in which the game is decided by how close each of the six color balls (red and blue) is attached near the white target on the field.

Jung Sung-joon and Leo Woong's skills were neck-and-neck. However, the point kept going over due to the subtle mistake difference. In the first end, Jung Sung-joon's last blue sixth pitch, which was in an advantageous position, rather pushed the target near the opponent's red ball and was dragged 0-2. The second and third ends were also disappointing. Jung Sung-joon continued to give up one point each after a fierce defensive battle until the last six pitches.

Courtesy of the Korean Sports Council for the Disabled

Trailing by four points, Jung Sung-joon used a bold multi-scoring strategy in the last four ends. Four points allowed me to go to extra time. However, in the end, he ended up with only one point. Jung Sung-joon said "If I had been more bold in the beginning, I could have looked at the tie (4th end), but that's too bad. I missed the gold medal because I played timidly. I will definitely win the gold medal in the remaining team events."

Jung Sung-jun then said "There have been many times I've wanted to give up. Even when I came to this tournament, I felt that way after losing my first preliminary match. But the coach and Park Tae-soo's game partner caught me well, so I was able to come this farI thought about retiring because I was old, but I will try harder. That's why I want to go to the next Paralympics." It was Jung Sung-joon's preview of the sequel, which turned into the leading role.

wman@sportschosun.com