Olympic Champion Mum Kim’s Inspiration
When Kim Hye Jeong entered the Japan Open back in August, she had one task on her mind – to see her name on the trophy that had her mother's.
· DIANNE PIERRE
Coming through a mighty battle 23-21 28-26 with Jeong Na Eun against compatriots Baek Ha Na/Lee Yu Lim in the final in Osaka, she got her wish. Proudly holding her coveted prize in the mixed zone, the 24-year-old could not contain her joy as she revealed: “I had that fire burning inside me to win.
"Now I get to see my name engraved on the trophy like my mum, which means a great deal to me, and my family.”
Kim’s mother Chung So Young is a four-time Japan Open winner in women’s doubles, with her first title coming in 1988 with Chung Myung Hee.