Basket player Shin Ji-hyun has high hopes for next season

She looked beautiful in a white blouse instead of a pick uniform. The Dong-A Ilbo met Shin Ji-hyun, who splendidly finished her last women’s professional basketball season by winning a rookie award, Monday. She was already preparing for her next season.

KEB Hana Bank women’s basketball team resumed training on April 13 after a month long rest, but Shin joined her team on April 22 due to her training trip to the U.S. under auspices of the Women’s Korean Basketball League. The day she joined the team training was when a jogging session was added to weight training. She and other team players ran for 40-50 minutes from 6 a.m. "I am so tired," she said. “I had been criticized to gain weight and develop physical strength. It’s good that I have to train hard.”

Gaining popularity in the last season for her pretty appearance, she said, “In fact, I feel something missing.” She got chances to play in more games that helped her gain experience and pride, but she was also criticized due to unstable performance. “I’m in my second year and lack many things. It is natural that I’m short of expectations," Shin said. "But I don’t want to be impatient. I want to show people that I’m developing gradually but constantly."

Her training trip abroad was a huge opportunity for Shin where she could stay with 10 players who have been in professional basketball for less than five years. In Irvine, California, Shin concentrated on training dribbles and steps that she had been lacking. “U.S. players have good physical conditions and also individual skills. I will digest what I learned there through individual training ahead of the season,” she said.

Having recharged herself, Shin pledged, “I felt I had a long season due to lack of physical strength. I have strong willpower but was faltering some times,” adding, “I will make sure that I will improve next season.”

Shin’s next goal is to advance to the playoff stage. She has a dream to become an offensive guard and become a national team player. “KDB Life’s Lee Kyung-eun is my role model. I want to inherit both her game operation ability and individual talent,” she said.

jaj@donga.com