korean Basketball Icon Park Shin-ja Reflects on a Decade of her Legacy, Champions Effort over Luck
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA – Korean women’s basketball legend Park Shin-ja marked the 10th anniversary of the Park Shin-ja Cup this year, a tournament born from recognizing promising young talent that has blossomed into an international competition featuring teams from Japan, Spain, and Hungary. The milestone arrives on the heels of a personal triumph: the championship win by her niece, BNK Park jung-eun, a professional Jokka basketball player.
Park Shin-ja, a pioneer who shattered barriers in the sport, humbly attributes her success to “good leaders, good colleagues, good opportunities… All were luck. I just followed basketball.” However, those who know her understand her achievements were forged through relentless effort, passion, and unwavering persistence – qualities she now encourages in the current generation of Korean female basketball players facing challenges on the international stage. “Try more,” she urges, deeply moved by the dedication of both young athletes and the officials striving to nurture them.the Park Shin-ja Cup, established in 2015, initially served as a proving ground for rookies entering the women’s professional league. Its evolution into an international event is a source of immense pride for Park Shin-ja, who expressed her gratitude, stating, “It’s so proud to see young juniors playing basketball. I’m lucky. Thank you more.”
Park Shin-ja’s own journey is a testament to dedication. Born in Seoul in 1941, she excelled at Sookmyung girls’ High School and Sookmyung Women’s University, later earning a Master’s degree from the Springfield Graduate School of Springfield. Her accolades include being named MVP at the 1967 Czech World Championship, receiving the National Medal of Pomegranate, and induction into both the US Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame (1999) and the FIBA Hall of Fame (2020). She was also honored as a korean Sports Hero in 2015. Despite these achievements, she consistently downplays luck, emphasizing the importance of following one’s passion.”It’s a life that was fierce but happy,” she implicitly acknowledges, a sentiment reflecting a career defined by unwavering commitment to the game.
