Choi Hyung-woo 41 years old, Kang Min-ho 39 years old, veterans rejuvenating → The era of retirement in their 30s is over
Dec 17, 2024
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At the 2024 KBO League Golden Glove Awards, KIA Tigers' Choi Hyung-woo set a new record of 'highest award'. Designated hitter Choi Hyung-woo won the Golden Glove at the age of 40 years, 11 months, and 27 days, breaking Lee Dae-ho's record of 40 years, 5 months, and 18 days. Samsung's Kang Min-ho, who will turn 40 next year, took the catcher's golden glove. Both Choi Hyung-woo and Kang Min-ho are the seventh golden gloves in their career. Of this year's Golden Glove winners, only three are in their 20s, including Kim Do-young and Park Chan-ho (Kia) and Kim Hye-sung (Kium).
It is noteworthy that veteran players do not just survive their careers, but continue to perform at the highest level in the league. Usually, the prime time of a professional sports player is considered to be in his late 20s to early 30s. Young players are preferred if they are at the same value or similar level. In the mid-30s, there was a widespread atmosphere of being classified as an object of reorganization. However, as more and more players maintain their health and skills around the age of 40, such as Choi Hyung-woo and Kang Min-ho, the view toward the veteran has changed a lot.
Choi Hyung-woo said that the players' mindsets themselves have changed from the past. Choi Hyung-woo expressed satisfaction, saying that older players like him are steadily taking care of themselves. He "Everyone's doing great now. Unlike before, I'm making a lot of effort now. Of course, it is true that the players are working harder now than in the past because they admit it even when they are over 40 years old."
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Oh Seung-hwan (Samsung), born in 1982, will continue to play next year. LG's solid setup man Kim Jin-sung will also turn 40 next year. Choi Hyung-woo said, `Now you can get as much opportunity and show your skills as you did. So, I hope everyone works hard continuously"I ordered. Choi Hyung-woo doesn't look far away. Choi Hyungwoo says, "I'm only going to report next year anyway," he said, adding that he would spend a year and a year as if it were his last.
Some even ask when Choi Hyung-woo and Kang Min-ho are, but professionals are in a world where they compete only with their skills. World-renowned soccer stars Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) and Cristiano Ronaldo (Alnasr) will also turn 38 and 40 in 2025, respectively, but are still active.
Reporter Han Dong-hoon dhhan@sportschosun.com
dhhan@sportschosun.com
