Haeng Jik Kim (24) back on top after brain stroke

SUWON - The former, four times junior world champion HaengJik Kim, 24, from South Korea, is back from being away after the brain stroke (cerebral haemorrhage) he suffered last year, May 10, 2013. His complete recovery took at least half a year, but now the Korean player feels top fit is again the real winner he was in his junior years.

He lives together with his younger brother in Suwon, is serving into a military camp and won the two tournaments that were played in Korea this year: once he defeated Jung Han Heo in the final, former number one in the country at that time and secondly Chi-Yoen Choe, the current number one.

Next weekend, the third ranking tournament will be played for the Korean championship: the Harim Seoul Open. There, HaengJik Kim is again one of the major contenders.

The most successful young Korean, who took his first junior world title at the age of fifteen and then won the other three times in Hoogeveen, Guatemala and San Javier, is preparing for the next tournament and hopes to participate at the World championship in his country.

Kozoom asked him for an interview and talked with him about his health, billiards and future as a sports man.

Kozoom/Frits Bakker: How good to hear that you're doing well again and you're back in billiards. How is life at the moment, what can you say about your health and about billiards?
HaengJik Kim: ,,I am in a very good health, I don't skip meal and ride a bike an hour everyday. And I'm also trying to enjoy the billiard.''

Kozoom/FB: You've played a few major tournaments in Korea this year and performed excellently.
HK: ,,Yes, and the recent results are quite surprising me. I've won the two big tournaments in a row won with a general average over 1.800. I also won a few warm-up matches and tournaments within the state (Kyunggi-do).''

Kozoom/FB: Are you still under permanent control at the hospital after your brain stroke last year?
HK: ,,No, I don't need to be under control anymore.''

Kozoom/FB: How do you feel actually, I mean, in every day's life, are you afraid that it can happen again, or do you feel fully recovered?
HK: ,,I feel that I'm fully recovered and I'm trying not to recall the painful memory. Honestly, I can't remember the time when I was in pain, as I suffered from amnesia. And no... I'm not afraid anymore. However, doctors still don't know the reason, therefore, it can come again at some point, so I'm trying not to get stressed.''

Kozoom/FB: Talking abo¬¬¬ut your personal situation: where do you live now, you still have your girlfriend?
HK: ,,I live in Suwon, about 30 kilometres from Seoul. For my military service, I work¬¬, because of the disease, at the court, near my house. And no, I do not have a girlfriend anymore.''

Kozoom/FB: How does your life looks like in sporting terms: a lot of billiards, practicing every day?
HK: ,,Billiards is my life, of course, I try to practice every day.''

Kozoom/FB: Are you now in preparation for certain tournaments?
HK: ,,I'm not aiming for a certain tournament. I feel that I still have many things to improve, so practicing is the only way at the moment.''

Kozoom/FB: How are the chances for the Korean championship for the moment, let's say, how is the ranking now?
HK: ,,Chi-Yeon Cho is the number one after the two tournaments we played, followed by Jung- Han Heo, Jae-Ho Cho, Kyung-Roul Kim, Choong-Bok Lee, Hyung-Kon Kim, Dong -Koong Kang, Sung-Won Choi, Kwang-Yeol Park. And I am the number ten now. We don't have a championship in Korea, so every big tournament has its raking points.''

Kozoom/FB: What can you say about your development after your amazing junior years?
HK: ,,There's a huge gap between the level of the juniors and seniors. And I know it better than anyone else. I did my best to overcome the gap when I was a junior, and I think that effort is going to shine. But I'd like to come to the front in the World Cup tournaments, like Filippos Kasidokostas and Javier Palazón.''

Kozoom/FB: What is your main goal in billiards?
HK: ,,I want to be the world champion, of course. More important, however, is to remain a good billiard player over the whole life. I like to make friends all over the world and play with them in many world tournaments.''

Kozoom/FB: What can you say about Korean billiards in general: are there still many young talent coming up, like you?
HK: ,,We have many young and gifted players in Korea. They are growing a lot and I believe they will be the future of the Korean and the world's billiard.''

Kozoom/FB: What have you done to grow from a huge talent to the player you are today? I mean, how have you developed as a player in Korea, is the federation involved in the development of young players?
HK: ,,I was never educated in billiard. I just watched other people playing (in the clubs and on Internet) and I try to follow them. I didn't have a teacher, so I had to practice much more and harder. Recalling my youth, I can't bring anything to mind but practicing.''

Kozoom/FB: When will we see you again in Europe?
HK: ,,I can't resist playing in Europe, but I'm basically bounded in the military service now. I don't want to be so impatient. I'll sharpen and polish my skill and show up in an international tournament, probably next year.''