“Hello, my best friend, Volleyball.” Former coach Hye-jung Cho passes away after battling cancer

Former GS Caltex professional volleyball women’s coach Hye-jeong Cho passed away after battling cancer. Age 71.

Cho Yoon-hee, a former professional golfer who played on the KLPGA tour and the daughter of former coach Hye-jeong Cho, told Yonhap News on the 30th, “My mother passed away this morning due to a chronic illness.” The deceased passed away on this day after battling pancreatic cancer.

The deceased, who was nicknamed ‘the little flying bird’ for jumping at a short height of 164cm and striking down spikes, is a legendary figure in Korean women’s volleyball. The deceased made a great performance in offense and defense at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, helping Korean women’s volleyball to third place. It was the first medal won by a Korean ball game at the Olympics.

Former coach Cho Hye-jeong, who started playing volleyball in the 5th grade of elementary school, was first selected for the national team in 1970 when she was in the 3rd grade of high school, and played actively in the 1970 Bangkok Asian Games, 1972 Munich Olympics, 1974 Tehran Asian Games, and 1976 Montreal Olympics. Afterwards, he played for the corporate teams National Tax Service and Midopa, and went to Italy in 1979 to serve as a playing coach for two years.

Former coach Cho, who retired in 1981, took over as head coach of GS Caltex in April 2010 and became ‘the first female head coach in professional volleyball history.’

Before his death, the deceased wrote an earnest letter to the love of his life, volleyball.

Former coach Cho wrote in the letter, “Volleyball, the first time I saw you was when I was 13 years old and in middle school, so our relationship has been going on for over half a century, almost 60 years.” He then looked back and said, “Sometimes I give you a hard time, and sometimes you give me a hard time.” There was a time. The persistent relationship continues to this day. “But Volleyball, now I can’t be friends with you anymore,” he said goodbye.

The deceased went on to say, “I am writing this letter while enduring pain because I think it is the least considerate thing for you to tell you, out of all my friends, that I am breaking up directly with you.” He added, “I think the cancer cells in my pancreas that I discovered at the end of last year are going to devour me.” . “I played volleyball with a short height of less than 170cm, and I fought energetically, thinking I couldn’t win even one, but it was only a few days ago that I learned that there are some things in this world that are not possible,” he said, continuing his struggle with the disease.

He said, “I’m sorry, Volleyball, I’m really sorry. I can’t remain your friend any longer. It was really fun and happy to meet you. The trip with you in Montreal and Italy was the flower of my life. That time with you on the professional stage in Korea was the best date of my life. “Goodbye, thank you to Volleyball!” he said as his final greeting.

The Korea Volleyball Association decided to posthumously award a plaque of merit with the hearts of all volleyball players in memory of the deceased, who was a legendary player who left a great mark on the development of volleyball in Korea.

Former manager Cho Hye-jeong married former professional baseball player Cho Chang-soo, former acting manager of the Samsung Lions, in 1981, and had daughters Jo Yoon-hee and Jo Yoon-ji. Jo Yoon-hee and Jo Yoon-ji played in the KLPGA.

The deceased’s funeral was set up at the funeral hall of Samsung Seoul Hospital. The funeral will be held on November 1st at 6:30 am.

Next is ‘Hello, Volleyball!’ written by former coach Hye-Jeong Cho while he was still alive. specialty

Hello volleyball!

Volleyball, you are the friend I had the most chemistry with out of all the friends I’ve ever met.

We were literally best friends.

When I first met you, I was thirteen and in middle school, so more than half a century has already passed and almost 60 years have passed since our relationship.

Just like any other friend, why was there no conflict while you and I were together for such a long time?

Sometimes I gave you a hard time, and sometimes you gave me a hard time.

There were more than a few times when I thought about breaking off my relationship with you.

But in the end, you couldn’t abandon me, and I didn’t have the courage to abandon you.

That persistent relationship has continued to this day.

But volleyball,

Now I can’t be friends with you anymore.

Among the many friends in the world, I am writing this letter while enduring the pain because I believe that personally informing you of our separation is the least consideration for you who have been with me all this time.

I think the pancreatic cancer cells I discovered late last year are trying to devour me.

I had heard that pancreatic cancer was the worst among cancer cells, but I never thought I would lose.

I fought back with great courage for the past year, thinking, ‘I played volleyball with a height of less than 1m70, but I can’t beat that guy,’ but it was only a few days ago that I learned that there are some things that cannot be done in this world.

“I’m sorry, I don’t think that will work”

This is what my doctor said to me while feeling sorry during his final diagnosis.

I guess the time given to me now is about two months.

I was shocked as if the sky was falling and the earth was disappearing, but the moment I realized that nothing could bring this reality back, I decided to accept everything.

This firm decision belongs solely to me.

Even my beloved husband and proud daughters are outsiders when it comes to this pain.

So I decided to organize my life myself.

I believed that my remaining family would take care of everything else, and I thought I should personally say goodbye to you, Volleyball.

I thought I should organize what I wanted to say to you before my strength fades further.

To be honest, it is true that I feel a little sorry for you because I have never once imagined that I would leave you first in all the time I have been with you.

I’m sorry, Volleyball, I’m really sorry.

I can’t remain your friend any longer.

I have to go somewhere soon. To that distant place where I can’t be with you.

Even without me, you won’t be lonely because you have many other friends by your side.

Even if you feel sad, please let me go now.

I was really happy and happy to meet you all this time.

The trip I took with you in Montreal and Italy was the flower of my life.

And that time with you on the professional stage in Korea was the best date of my life.

I hate myself a little for having to say goodbye to you without being able to overcome even one lump of cancer, but I will cherish every moment we had together as our memories.

How can the relationship between you and me, which has lasted over half a century, be ended by this one letter of separation?

But now I don’t have the strength to hold on to you much longer.

Hello, Volleyball, my grateful friend!