*This content was translated by AI.
KB Insurance's main hitter Noh Kyung-bok (32) is strengthening her resolve for the new season, driven by an even greater sense of urgency. Although she has not yet fully recovered from the knee injury that plagued her last season, she is determined to push through the pain.
KB Insurance is conducting its pre-season training at Sakai City Municipal Ohama Gymnasium in Sakai City, Tottori Prefecture, Japan. Having suffered a major injury last year, Noh Kyung-bok is shedding more sweat than ever before this season to avoid repeating her previous disappointments.
Noh Kyung-bok stated, "Last season was the most difficult time since my professional debut," adding, "There were injuries, but I also felt regret for not being able to perform when I needed to."
Despite it being her first major injury since debut, she did not miss a single game. While she played with fierce determination on the court, the statistics revealed her true condition. Although she participated in all regular-season games, her scoring dropped to 406 points compared to the previous season's 470 points. Her attack success rate fell to a career-low of 46.21% since her debut season, and her attack efficiency dipped to 28.06%, marking the first time since the 2018-2019 season that it remained in the 20th% range.
Noh Kyung-bok said, "This was the first time I experienced such severe pain, and I didn't know what to do. I asked many teammates for advice, and they all told me I had to adapt to the pain."
With the new season approaching, her primary focus is on her knee condition. She is working hard to build a physical state suitable for competition and has even started losing weight due to concerns that excess weight could strain her knees. "I have lost about 4 kilograms compared to last season and now weigh around 96 kilograms. I am making extra efforts to get below 95 kilograms," she said, adding, "When I talk to older teammates, they say it's better to lose weight and become slimmer as you age."
Although she has long passed her thirties, Noh Kyung-bok is giving her all in training, even more than anyone else at the Japanese pre-season camp. Acting head coach Ha Hyun-yong remarked, "Noh Kyung-bok shows a strong sense of urgency by consistently doing personal night workouts and running." Noh responded, "I was never lacking in determination before, but I definitely made up my mind to be even more determined this season. Since I couldn't perform last season, I cannot accept failing again consecutively this season."
Andres Viegas, who led the team's offense for four seasons, has left, and Lim Sung-jin, signed as a free agent (FA), has enlisted in the military. As a result, Noh Kyung-bok's burden has grown even heavier.
A major personal comeback is also crucial for the sake of the team's performance. During the 2019-2020 regular season while playing for Woori Card, she helped the team finish first, but due to the impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the shortened season meant missing her first opportunity to win a championship. In the 2020-2021 season, although they reached the finals after finishing second in the regular season, they could not overcome the barrier posed by Korean Air.
Noh Kyung-bok expressed, "I have memories of regret from my time at Woori Card, and I feel that failing to win a championship each season means it was a 'failed season.' This season, I want to make it a successful one rather than a failed one."
The entire team shares the same mindset. Noh Kyung-bok said, "All players are training with an urgent desire to win the championship. The biggest goal is for every player to stay healthy and unite as one. If we do that, I believe our results will follow."
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*This content was translated by AI.
