Red Sparks Coach Ko Hee-jin Praises Megawati Hangestri: "She's a True Warrior"

5 hours ago 7

January 23, 2025 | 04:22 pm

Red Sparks coach Ko Hee-jin and Megawati Hangestri. (photo: KOVO)

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Red Sparks coach Ko Hee-jin praised Megawati Hangestri for her outstanding contributions to the team's recent string of victories. He expressed his gratitude for having the Indonesian player on his roster.

Megawati led the Red Sparks to their 12th consecutive win by defeating Hyundai Construction Hillstate 3-2 (21-25, 29-17, 23-25, 25-18, 15-13) in the South Korean Volleyball League (V-League) on Wednesday, January 22, 2025.

Megawati collected 38 points, the highest among all players in the match, while teammate Vanja Bukilic contributed 31 points.

Following the match, Coach Ko Hee-jin praised Megawati. “Mega is a great player. She has a strong sense of responsibility and never shows any signs of facing difficulties. Mega consistently strives to give her best in every match,” he said.

Coach Ko also acknowledged that choosing Megawati was one of the best decisions of his career. “She's a true warrior. The edelweiss flowers sent by Indonesian fans to the team symbolize Mega's strength. I feel very lucky to have her on the team,” said Ko gratefully.

This victory propelled the Red Sparks to third place in the standings with 43 points, closing in on second-placed Hyundai Hillstate with 47 points. The Pink Spiders currently lead the standings with 50 points.

After the match, Megawati attributed the team's 12-game winning streak to their confidence. “Confidence and positive energy are key,” she said.

Megawati expressed surprise when informed that she had scored 10 points in the fifth set. “I didn’t know the score. When I was told about it, I was so surprised that I couldn't say anything,” she said with a smile.

Megawati shared her strategy for maintaining consistent performance: “I often review videos of previous matches to identify areas for improvement and find open spaces on the court. Additionally, I receive support from all my teammates.”

She also humbly responded to Coach Ko's praise, stating, “Initially, I didn't have high expectations when I was selected. However, after joining the team, I gained confidence. Trust within the team is very important.”

Megawati, known for her bright smile, emphasized the importance of positive energy in achieving good results. “Smiling gives me strength. I always try to think positively, and I believe I am sure good results will follow.”

In the 23rd week of the V-League, the Red Sparks are scheduled to face AI Pepper on January 26. AI Pepper, currently in fifth place, has shown significant improvement in recent matches with strong defensive play and sharp counterattacks. This match will serve as a crucial test for the Red Sparks to maintain their winning streak.

NAVER | SBS

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