Brothers set to play on same German team

Korean handball players Yoon Kyung-shin and Yoon Kyung-min, brothers who played for the national team at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, are likely to be playing together in the German league.
Coach Richard Ratka of the Gummersbach handball club scouted Kyung-min, 26, in November to see whether he is good enough to join the team for which Kyung-shin, 32, already plays.
Although Kyung-min pulled a ligament in his left knee during practice and had to postpone signing a contract, it is seen as only a matter of time before he gets to play in Germany.
“I want to play side by side with my brother,” Kyung-min said, while adding that he would keep an eye out for other teams that are available to him when he plays for Gummersbach.
On Saturday, Kyung-min married Lee Ji-hyun, who was introduced to him by his brother.
“Playing handball, going to Germany and getting married are all because of my brother,” Kyung-min said.
“Sometimes I feel frustrated because I play in the shadow of my brother, but now I am proud that we can play on the same court.”
Kyung-shin is Korea’s most prolific scorer; most recently he scored 58 goals at the 2004 Olympic Games, while also giving outstanding performances at the 1994 Asian Games in Hiroshima, Japan and the 1995 and 1997 world handball championships.
He began playing in the German league in 1996 and ranks third in the league’s history in goals scored; he is ranked first among current players. Kyung-shin is also among the top five income earners in the league, and was selected World Handball Player of the Year by the International Handball Federation in 2001.
“Playing in Athens, we had good chemistry,” Kyung-shin said. “I hope we can play together in the near future.”

by Kang Hye-ran