Ready to Rise

By John McInerney

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Bong Geun Kim has been recognized by the University of Southern Mississippi’s Table Tennis Club as their team’s most valuable player for the past two years. A Korean born citizen, his most valued accomplishment was being selected as a member of the Korean Junior National Team in 1998-99. While quickly advancing in the ranks from junior player to collegiate standout at Inha University in Incheon, Korea, he helped lead his team to a bronze medal in inter-collegiate doubles competition. Upon accomplishing this feat, he was named a top ten player among Korean universities. Shortly there after, he traveled to the United States and settled in Southern Mississippi where he continued his studies. Not wasting any time, he soon discovered NCTTA and advanced to the quarter finals in the 2004 ACUI Nationals, an organization working in part with NCTTA which named Kim to be the nation’s Region Six Champion twice. He has also placed a very impressive NCTTA singles record of 21-1 overall.

Table tennis runs deep in Kim’s family. His father, Kwang Jim Kim, was a 1998 Paralympic gold medalist, and his sister Kyung Ha Kim, currently plays for the Korean National Team. Now a sophomore at USM, Kim plans to advance his love and dedication to athletics and graduate with a bachelor’s degree in sports medicine. We know that he will continue to be a valued asset to the sport through his accomplishments and persistence. NCTTA recognizes this player’s extraordinary ability and determination. We are proud to select Bong Geun Kim as our featured player for the quarter.