‘Ryu Eunhee Europe Trip Project’, Time to Show True Value... Women’s Handball Stakes Victory Against Netherlands

Women's handball national team player Ryu Eun-hee is shooting past defenders during the final match between Korea and Japan at the Asian Women's Handball Championship held on the 22nd at Seosuwon Chilbo Gymnasium.
[Photo by Kim Hyun-min]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Kang Jae-won, the head coach of the women's handball national team, made a decision while pondering ways to improve the team's performance in 2019. He decided to send ace Ryu Eun-hee (Gy?ri, Hungary) to Europe.

Coach Kang played in Europe, the center of handball, during his playing career. From 1989 to 1994, he played for Grasshopper in Switzerland, and from 1994 to 1999, for Pfadi Winterthur. He improved his skills by learning game know-how and fast handball against Europe's big players. Coach Kang hoped Ryu Eun-hee would follow the same path. In 2019, Ryu Eun-hee transferred to the French professional handball team Paris 92 and played there for two years. In February last year, she received the 'Player of the Month' award. This was Coach Kang's so-called 'Ryu Eun-hee Europe Project.'

The results must be seen in Tokyo. Ryu Eun-hee must save the women's handball team, which is in crisis. The national team will play its second Group A league match against the Netherlands today (27th) at 4:15 PM at the Japan National Yoyogi Gymnasium. After losing the first match against Norway, the team needs a turnaround in momentum.

This match is expected to be a turning point for advancing to the quarterfinals. Coach Kang said, "We need to beat one of the two strong teams in our group, Norway or the Netherlands, to have a favorable draw even if we advance to the quarterfinals."

Captain and key player in both offense and defense, Ryu Eun-hee, is expected to lead the team. The team expects from Ryu Eun-hee solid defense and the ability to finish fast breaks with scoring. Ryu mainly covers the right defense. Using her height (181 cm), which is considered tall for a female player, she plans to block the opponent's attackers' vision and shots. She also aims for active shooting during fast breaks. In the match against Norway on the 25th, she attempted eight shots but scored only three goals.

If they defeat the Netherlands, hope will arise for Ryu Eun-hee's Olympic medal dream. She participated in the 2012 London Olympics (4th place) and the 2016 Rio Olympics (eliminated in group stage) but did not win a medal. Ryu Eun-hee said, "I don't want to be frustrated three times in a row." After this Olympics, Ryu Eun-hee will transfer to the prestigious European club Gy?ri in Hungary, where she plans to play for two years.