1. Early Life and Background
Ra Kyung-min's journey in badminton began in her early years, leading her to become one of South Korea's most celebrated athletes.
1.1. Birth and Childhood
Ra Kyung-min was born on November 25, 1976, in Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon Province, South Korea. Little public information is available regarding her specific family background or the immediate environment of her early childhood, but her talent for badminton emerged early on.
1.2. Education and Early Career
Details about Ra Kyung-min's early educational path are not widely publicized, but her athletic development quickly led her to the international stage. She made her debut at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, competing in both women's singles and mixed doubles. This early foray into elite competition marked the beginning of her distinguished professional career. Following her retirement from competitive play, she pursued further education, which ultimately led to her appointment as a professor in the Department of Physical Education at Korea National Sport University.
2. Badminton Career
Ra Kyung-min's professional badminton career was marked by extraordinary success, particularly in doubles events, where she achieved numerous victories and established herself as a global leader.
2.1. Olympic Participation
Ra Kyung-min participated in three Olympic Games, consistently showcasing her competitive spirit and skill in various doubles categories.
Her first Olympic appearance was at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. In the women's singles event, she was defeated in the first round by Huang Chia-chi of Chinese Taipei with a score of 6-11, 7-11. However, her performance in mixed doubles was more successful. Partnering with her senior, Park Joo-bong, she reached the final, where they ultimately secured a silver medal after a close match against fellow South Koreans Kim Dong-moon and Gil Young-ah, losing 15-13, 4-15, 12-15.
At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Ra Kyung-min competed in both women's doubles and mixed doubles. As the third seed in women's doubles with Chung Jae-hee, they lost in the semi-final to Chinese pair Huang Nanyan and Yang Wei. They then lost again in the bronze medal match to another Chinese pair, Gao Ling and Qin Yiyuan. In mixed doubles, partnering with Kim Dong-moon as the second seed, they reached the quarter-final round but were defeated by Zhang Jun and Gao Ling.
Her final Olympic appearance was at the 2004 Athens Olympics. In women's doubles, she partnered with Lee Kyung-won. After a first-round bye, they defeated Pernille Harder and Mette Schjoldager of Denmark in the second round. In the quarterfinals, Ra and Lee advanced by beating Mia Audina and Lotte Bruil of the Netherlands 15-5, 15-2. They lost their semifinal match to Yang Wei and Zhang Jiewen of China 6-15, 4-15, but successfully secured the bronze medal by winning against another Chinese pair, Wei Yili and Zhao Tingting, with a score of 10-15, 15-9, 15-7. In mixed doubles, she again partnered with Kim Dong-moon. They also received a first-round bye and defeated Chris Bruil and Lotte Bruil in the second round. However, in the quarterfinals, Ra and Kim lost to Jonas Rasmussen and Rikke Olsen of Denmark 14-17, 8-15.
2.2. World Championships and Major International Tournaments
Ra Kyung-min's career was highlighted by exceptional performances in the BWF World Championships and numerous other major international tournaments, particularly in mixed doubles with Kim Dong-moon.
Her partnership with Kim Dong-moon in mixed doubles was historically dominant, achieving a remarkable 70-match winning streak and securing 14 consecutive titles in international tournaments between the late 1990s and early 2000s. This made them the world's strongest mixed doubles pair during that period.
At the World Championships, Ra Kyung-min won two gold medals in mixed doubles with Kim Dong-moon: in 1999 in Copenhagen and in 2003 in Birmingham. They also secured a silver medal in mixed doubles at the 2001 Seville Championships. In women's doubles, she won a silver medal in 1999 with Chung Jae-hee and a bronze medal in 2001 with Lee Kyung-won.
Beyond the World Championships, Ra Kyung-min accumulated an extensive collection of titles in the IBF World Grand Prix events, including the All England Open Badminton Championships, Japan Open, Korea Open, and many others. She also achieved significant success at the Asian Games, winning gold medals in mixed doubles in 1998 and 2002 with Kim Dong-moon, and a gold in women's doubles in 2002 with Lee Kyung-won. At the Badminton Asia Championships, she won five gold medals, predominantly in mixed doubles with Kim Dong-moon (1998, 1999, 2001, 2004) and one in women's doubles in 2003 with Lee Kyung-won. Her world record for the shortest international badminton match, lasting only six minutes, was set during the 1996 Uber Cup, where she defeated Julia Mann of England in women's singles with scores of 11-2, 11-1.
2.3. Retirement and Comeback
Ra Kyung-min announced her retirement from professional badminton in February 2007, primarily due to her pregnancy and the birth of her first child. After a two-year hiatus from competitive play, she made a comeback to the sport in September 2009, rejoining her former team, Daekyo Noonnoppi, to resume her career.
3. Major Achievements and Records
Ra Kyung-min's career is marked by an extensive list of achievements across various international badminton tournaments, demonstrating her consistent excellence at the highest levels of the sport.
3.1. Olympic Medal Records
| Year | Venue | Event | Partner | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | GSU Sports Arena, Atlanta, United States | Mixed doubles | Park Joo-bong |  Silver |
| 2004 | Goudi Olympic Hall, Athens, Greece | Women's doubles | Lee Kyung-won |  Bronze |
3.2. World Championships Medal Records
| Year | Venue | Event | Partner | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Brøndby Arena, Copenhagen, Denmark | Mixed doubles | Kim Dong-moon |  Gold |
| 1999 | Brøndby Arena, Copenhagen, Denmark | Women's doubles | Chung Jae-hee |  Silver |
| 2001 | Palacio de Deportes de San Pablo, Seville, Spain | Mixed doubles | Kim Dong-moon | Silver |
| 2001 | Palacio de Deportes de San Pablo, Seville, Spain | Women's doubles | Lee Kyung-won |  Bronze |
| 2003 | National Indoor Arena, Birmingham, United Kingdom | Mixed doubles | Kim Dong-moon | Gold |
3.3. Asian Games Medal Records
| Year | Venue | Event | Partner | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Thammasat Gymnasium 2, Bangkok, Thailand | Mixed doubles | Kim Dong-moon | Gold |
| 1998 | Thammasat Gymnasium 2, Bangkok, Thailand | Women's doubles | Chung Jae-hee | Bronze |
| 2002 | Gangseo Gymnasium, Busan, South Korea | Mixed doubles | Kim Dong-moon | Gold |
| 2002 | Gangseo Gymnasium, Busan, South Korea | Women's doubles | Lee Kyung-won | Gold |
3.4. Asian Championships Medal Records
| Year | Venue | Event | Partner | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Cheras Indoor Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Women's singles | - | Bronze |
| 1998 | Nimibutr Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand | Mixed doubles | Kim Dong-moon | Gold |
| 1999 | Kuala Lumpur Badminton Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Mixed doubles | Kim Dong-moon | Gold |
| 1999 | Kuala Lumpur Badminton Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Women's doubles | Chung Jae-hee | Silver |
| 2001 | PhilSports Arena, Manila, Philippines | Mixed doubles | Kim Dong-moon | Gold |
| 2003 | Tennis Indoor Gelora Bung Karno, Jakarta, Indonesia | Women's doubles | Lee Kyung-won | Gold |
| 2004 | Kuala Lumpur Badminton Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Mixed doubles | Kim Dong-moon | Gold |
3.5. Other International Tournament Achievements
Ra Kyung-min also achieved significant success in other international tournaments sanctioned by the International Badminton Federation (IBF), including Grand Prix and International series events.
In the IBF World Grand Prix, she earned 56 titles and was a runner-up 9 times. Notable victories include the 1994 Singapore Open in women's singles, and numerous women's doubles titles with partners like Chung Jae-hee (Hong Kong Open 1997, Swedish Open 1999, All England Open 1999, Korea Open 2000, Chinese Taipei Open 2000) and Lee Kyung-won (Swiss Open 2001, U.S. Open 2001, Swiss Open 2002, Japan Open 2002, Korea Open 2003, Dutch Open 2003, German Open 2003, Chinese Taipei Open 2003, Japan Open 2004). Her mixed doubles success with Kim Dong-moon in the Grand Prix circuit was extensive, including titles at the Thailand Open (1995), Japan Open (1996), Korea Open (1996), Swedish Open (1996), All England Open (1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004), U.S. Open (1997), Hong Kong Open (1997, 2001, 2003), China Open (1997), World Grand Prix Finals (1998, 1999), Singapore Open (1999, 2002, 2003), Swiss Open (2000, 2002, 2004), Malaysia Open (2000, 2003), Indonesia Open (2003), Dutch Open (2003), Denmark Open (2003), and German Open (2003).
In the IBF International series, she secured 2 titles and was a runner-up 4 times. Her wins include the 1999 Australian International in women's doubles with Lee Hyo-jung and the 2005 Canadian International in women's doubles with Jun Woul-sik.
3.6. World Shortest Match Record
Ra Kyung-min holds the world record for the shortest international badminton match. This occurred during the 1996 Uber Cup, where her women's singles match against Julia Mann of England lasted for a mere six minutes, with Ra winning 11-2, 11-1.
4. Personal Life
Ra Kyung-min's personal life is closely intertwined with her badminton career, especially through her marriage to fellow badminton star Kim Dong-moon.
She married her mixed doubles partner, Kim Dong-moon, on December 25, 2005. Following their marriage, the couple relocated to Canada to pursue further studies. While in Canada, they started a family, welcoming their first child, a son named Kim Han-wool, in July 2007. Their daughter, Kim Han-bi, was born in 2008. Her retirement from professional badminton in February 2007 was influenced by her pregnancy and the birth of her children.
5. Post-retirement Activities and Current Role
Following her distinguished career as a professional badminton player, Ra Kyung-min transitioned into academia. On August 25, 2020, she was formally appointed as a professor in the Department of Physical Education at Korea National Sport University. In this role, she contributes to the education and development of future athletes and sports professionals.
6. Assessment and Legacy
Ra Kyung-min's impact on the sport of badminton is significant, marked by her unparalleled success in doubles play and the honors she received.
6.1. Badminton Hall of Fame Induction
In recognition of her outstanding career and contributions to the sport, Ra Kyung-min was inducted into the Badminton Hall of Fame in 2009. This prestigious honor places her among the legends of badminton, acknowledging her lasting legacy as one of the most successful doubles players of her era.
6.2. Awards and Honors
Among her notable accolades, Ra Kyung-min was honored as the BWF Eddy Choong Player of the Year in 2003, an award she shared with her mixed doubles partner, Kim Dong-moon. This award recognizes the best player of the year as determined by the Badminton World Federation. Her consistent top-level performance and numerous titles contributed to this esteemed recognition.