1. Early Life
Ryu Eun-hee's early life and the start of her professional career laid the foundation for her later achievements.
1.1. Birth and Upbringing
Ryu Eun-hee was born on February 24, 1990, in South Korea. While specific details of her upbringing are not widely publicized, her early life experiences led her to pursue a career in professional handball.
1.2. Early Professional Career
Ryu Eun-hee began her professional handball career with the Busan Infrastructure Corporation team. During her tenure there, she played a pivotal role in the team's success, contributing to Busan Infrastructure Corporation winning its first-ever championship title in the SK Handball Korea League in 2019. This early success marked her as a rising talent in the sport.
2. Professional Career
Ryu Eun-hee's professional career has seen her play for several top clubs in South Korea and Europe, achieving significant success at each stop.
2.1. Club Career
Ryu Eun-hee started her professional club career with Busan Infrastructure Corporation in South Korea. After leading them to their first SK Handball Korea League title in 2019, she made a significant move to Europe, signing with Paris 92 in France. She competed in the French Women's Handball First League during her time there. However, in November 2020, due to concerns over the rising number of COVID-19 cases in France, Ryu Eun-hee returned to South Korea and rejoined Busan Infrastructure Corporation.
For the 2021-22 season, she made another move to Europe, transferring to the prestigious Hungarian club Győri ETO KC. She has since established herself as a key player for Győri ETO KC, contributing to their domestic and international successes.
2.2. Club Achievements
Ryu Eun-hee has amassed an impressive list of club achievements throughout her career.
- In 2019, she won the SK Handball Korea League championship with Busan Infrastructure Corporation.
- With Győri ETO KC, she won the Hungarian Championship in both 2022 and 2023.
- Her most significant club achievement came in 2024 when she won the Women's EHF Champions League with Győri ETO KC. This victory was particularly historic as it made her the first Korean player to win a major European handball club competition.
3. National Team Career
Ryu Eun-hee has been a cornerstone of the South Korean national team, representing her country in numerous major international tournaments.
3.1. International Tournament Participation
Ryu Eun-hee has an extensive record of international tournament participation, showcasing her consistent presence and importance to the South Korean national team. She became the starting right back for the national team at the 2009 World Women's Handball Championship, where South Korea finished in sixth place. She continued to represent her country at subsequent World Championships, including the 2013 (12th place), 2015 (14th place), 2017 (13th place), and 2019 (11th place) editions.
She has also been a four-time Olympian, participating in the 2012 London Olympics, 2016 Rio Olympics, 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and was named to the team for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Her participation in the Asian Games has also been highly successful:
- 2010 Asian Games (Bronze Medal)
- 2014 Asian Games (Gold Medal)
- 2022 Asian Games (Silver Medal)
3.2. Key Performances and Results
Ryu Eun-hee has delivered key performances for the South Korean national team across various international competitions. At the 2012 London Olympics, she was a standout performer, ranking third overall in goals with 43 goals. South Korea finished in fourth place at the 2012 Olympics, narrowly missing a medal after losing to Spain 31-29 in double overtime in the bronze medal match.
At the 2016 Rio Olympics, South Korea finished in 10th place. In the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the team advanced past the group stage and secured an 8th-place finish overall, which was the best result for a non-European team in the tournament. Ryu Eun-hee's consistent presence and leadership have been vital to these results.
4. Awards and Recognition
Ryu Eun-hee's career has been marked by numerous individual and team accolades, underscoring her status as one of South Korea's most accomplished handball players.
- EHF Champions League:** Winner (2024) - A historic achievement as the first Korean player to win this prestigious European club competition.
- Hungarian Championship:** Winner (2022, 2023) with Győri ETO KC.
- SK Handball Korea League:** Winner (2019) with Busan Infrastructure Corporation.
- Asian Games:** Gold Medal (2014), Silver Medal (2022), Bronze Medal (2010).
- 2012 Summer Olympics:** Ranked third overall in goals with 43 goals.
5. Personal Information
5.1. Playing Position
Ryu Eun-hee primarily plays as a right back on the handball court. This position typically involves scoring goals from the right side of the attack and contributing to the team's offensive strategies.
5.2. Birth Details
Ryu Eun-hee was born on February 24, 1990.
6. External links
- [https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/124223 Ryu Eun-hee] on Olympedia
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20161204000000/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/yu/yu-eun-hui-1.html Ryu Eun-hee] on Sports Reference