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PV Sindhu's coach Kim Ji Hyun quits as India's women's singles badminton coach due to family issues
Kim had to rush to New Zealand to be beside her husband Ritchie Marr, who suffered a stroke about a fortnight ago.
Months after helping PV Sindhu win the Badminton World Championships South Korea's Kim Ji Hyun has stepped down from her position as India's women's singles badminton coach to attend to her ailing husband in New Zealand.
The loss comes as a huge blow with less than a year to go for the Tokyo Olympics. Kim had to rush to New Zealand to be beside her husband Ritchie Marr, who suffered a stroke about a fortnight ago.
"It is true, Kim has resigned as her husband is pretty unwell. He suffered a kind of neuro stroke sometime during the World Championship. So she rushed back. She needs to take care of him as it will take around 4 to 6 months for him to recover," India's chief national coach Pullela Gopichand told PTI.
The 45-year-old coach had developed a good rapport with Sindhu, who time and again acknowledged the Korean's role in her success. Sindhu said the unforeseen situation doesn't leave her with any option but to go on without Kim. "It is unfortunate that Kim had to leave at this stage. I wish her husband a quick recovery,".
"I had a good rapport with her and I know it will be a fresh start for me but it is something which is part of a sportsperson's life. I will have to work harder and I am sure Gopi sir and the BAI will take care of everything," she added.
Interestingly, Kim is India's third foreign coach to have resigned without completing the tenure.
Renowned Indonesian coach Mulyo Handoyo, who had guided the men's singles shuttlers progress on the world stage, had resigned abruptly in late 2017 from the Indian national badminton team citing personal reasons. He later joined the Singapore squad.
Malaysia's Tan Kim Her had also stepped down as India's doubles coach early this year, 18 months before his tenure was to end at the Tokyo Olympics.
