Badminton’s Yoo Soo-sung “Next time, I’ll win unconditionally” after 12 straight losses to Japanese nemesis

By Seol Ha-eun Reporter-Hangzhou Commonwealth Foundation = South Korea’s Para badminton ace and future, Yoo Soo-sung (20, Korea Disability Employment Service), vowed to defeat her “nemesis” Daiki Kajiwara (21, Japan) next time.

“I’m bitter because I didn’t play as well as I expected,” Yoo said after losing 0-2 (15-21 9-21) to Kajiwara in the men’s singles WH2 badminton final at the Hangzhou Para Asian Games 2022 at Binjiang Gymnasium in Hangzhou, China on Sunday to claim silver.

“I was nervous and my right forearm came up in the middle of the second set. I didn’t play the way I did in the first set,” he said.

On the day, Yoo appeared to be in control of the match with a 13-10 lead in the first set, but lost the next eight points.

In the second set, she gave up seven consecutive points at 6-6 to fall apart at once.

With the loss, Yoo dropped to 12-0 in her career against Kajiwara.

“I have the World Championships next year and the Paralympic Games in Paris,” Yoo said, adding, “I will win unconditionally next time.”

Gajiwara was a gold medalist at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and completed a grand slam by winning the World Championships and then the Para Asian Games.

She is ranked No. 1 in the world in her sport, making her a tough competitor to beat.

“I feel a sense of rivalry with Yu because she’s my age,” she said, “and I’m not going to lose.”

Yoo, who has had an uncomfortable right leg since birth, was introduced to badminton in middle school and began playing professionally through a local Para sports organization.

Last year, he beat senior Kim Jung-jun, the former world No. 1 and Tokyo Paralympic silver medalist, to take the top spot overall. 슬롯게이밍