South Korean leading mixed double shuttlers Ra Kyung-Min and Kim Dong Moon are set to break up as Rais considering retirement and will give up mixed double for sure.
South Korean head coach Kim Jong Soo said at the China Open on Tuesday that Ra has been out of the national team after the Athens Olympic Games in August, where the pre-game favorites suffered a fiasco, failing to enter the mixed double semi-finals.
"The unexpected defeat in Athens was a heavy blow to Ra and seriously affected her confidence," Kim said.
Kim said that the 28-year-old would come back to concentrate on women's doubles next year although he admitted that she was in low spirit and considering ending her international career.
"I understand her. She needs time to recover," Kim said. "But I have talked with her and she would join us again next year."
"Considering her age and physical conditions, I think she has reasons to play for women's double only."
The South Korean badminton team would be recomposed after the Athens Games as one of their men's pairs Lee Dong-Soo and Yoo Yong-Sung, runners-up in the Athens Olympics, have both called it quits. They are working as coaches to the national junior team.
The South Koreans field new bloods only for the 250,000 US dollars China Open, held on November 9 to 14.
There were rumors around in South Korea that Ra would also retire after the Athens defeat. Ra is in a company team at home at present.
The South Korean legend and Kim still keep a record of 14 successive victories in international competitions.
(Xinhua News Agency November 10, 2004)
