Kim So-yeong

Kim So-yeong (; born 9 July 1992) is a South Korean badminton player. She is widely recognized for her exceptional defensive skills, tactical intelligence, and powerful net play. Throughout her career, she has achieved significant milestones, most notably reaching the world number one ranking in the women's doubles alongside Kong Hee-yong. Her legacy is highlighted by several prestigious accolades, including a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, a silver and two bronze medals at the BWF World Championships, as well a bronze in the 2018 Asian Championships and 2022 Asian Games. Kim also part of Korea winning team in the 2022 Uber Cup and Asian Games. Together with her partner Kong, they were honored as the 2019 BWF Most Improved Player of the Year.

Career Kim, who attended the University of Incheon, was the triple crowns at the 2013 Summer Universiade, winning the gold medals in the women's doubles, mixed doubles and team event.

Kim competed at the 2014 Asian Games, clinched the silver medal in the women's team event. Achievements

Olympic Games Women's doubles

World Championships Women's doubles Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result 2021 Palacio de los Deportes Carolina Marín, Huelva, Spain Kong Hee-yong Lee So-hee Shin Seung-chan 18–21, 17–21 Bronze Bronze 2022 Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan Kong Hee-yong Chen Qingchen Jia Yifan 20–22, 14–21 Silver Silver 2023 Royal Arena, Copenhagen, Denmark Kong Hee-yong Apriyani Rahayu Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti 9–21, 20–22 Bronze Bronze

Asian Games Women's doubles Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result 2022 Binjiang Gymnasium, Hangzhou, China Kong Hee-yong Chen Qingchen Jia Yifan 21–16, 9–21, 12–21 Bronze Bronze

Asian Championships Women's doubles Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result 2018 Wuhan Sports Center Gymnasium, Wuhan, China Kong Hee-yong Misaki Matsutomo Ayaka Takahashi 17–21, 22–20, 14–21 Bronze Bronze

Summer Universiade Women's doubles Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result 2013 Tennis Academy, Kazan, Russia Chang Ye-na Luo Yu Tian Qing 27–25, 15–21, 23–21 Gold Gold

Mixed doubles Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result 2013 Tennis Academy, Kazan, Russia Kim Gi-jung Liu Cheng Tian Qing 22–20, 21–14 Gold Gold

BWF World Tour (11 titles, 8 runners-up) The BWF World Tour, which was announced on 19 March 2017 and implemented in 2018, is a series of elite badminton tournaments sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). The BWF World Tours are divided into levels of World Tour Finals, Super 1000, Super 750, Super 500, Super 300 (part of the HSBC World Tour), and the BWF Tour Super 100.

Women's doubles Year Tournament Level Partner Opponent Score Result 2018 U.S. Open Super 300 Kim Hye-jeong Tang Jinhua Yu Xiaohan 21–18, 13–21, 15–21 Runner-up 2019 Indonesia Masters Super 500 Kong Hee-yong Misaki Matsutomo Ayaka Takahashi 19–21, 15–21 Runner-up 2019 Spain Masters Super 300 Kong Hee-yong Nami Matsuyama Chiharu Shida 23–21, 15–21, 21–17 Winner 2019 New Zealand Open Super 300 Kong Hee-yong Misaki Matsutomo Ayaka Takahashi 21–15, 21–18 Winner 2019 Japan Open Super 750 Kong Hee-yong Mayu Matsumoto Wakana Nagahara 21–12, 21–12 Winner 2019 Chinese Taipei Open Super 300 Kong Hee-yong Jongkolphan Kititharakul Rawinda Prajongjai 19–21, 21–18, 26–28 Runner-up 2019 Korea Open Super 500 Kong Hee-yong Lee So-hee Shin Seung-chan 13–21, 21–19, 21–17 Winner 2019 French Open Super 750 Kong Hee-yong Lee So-hee Shin Seung-chan 21–16, 19–21, 12–21 Runner-up 2020 (II) Thailand Open Super 1000 Kong Hee-yong Lee So-hee Shin Seung-chan 21–18, 21–19 Winner 2020 BWF World Tour Finals World Tour Finals Kong Hee-yong Lee So-hee Shin Seung-chan 21–15, 24–26, 19–21 Runner-up 2021 French Open Super 750 Kong Hee-yong Lee So-hee Shin Seung-chan 17–21, 12–21 Runner-up 2021 BWF World Tour Finals World Tour Finals Kong Hee-yong Nami Matsuyama Chiharu Shida 21–14, 21–14 Winner 2022 Korea Masters Super 300 Kong Hee-yong Baek Ha-na Lee Yu-rim 21–17, 21–12 Winner 2023 All England Open Super 1000 Kong Hee-yong Baek Ha-na Lee So-hee 21–5, 21–12 Winner 2023 Thailand Open Super 500 Kong Hee-yong Benyapa Aimsaard Nuntakarn Aimsaard 21–13, 21–17 Winner 2023 Korea Open Super 500 Kong Hee-yong Chen Qingchen Jia Yifan 10–21, 21–17, 7–21 Runner-up 2023 Japan Open Super 750 Kong Hee-yong Chen Qingchen Jia Yifan21–17, 21–14 Winner 2023 Australian Open Super 500 Kong Hee-yong Liu Shengshu Tan Ning 21–18, 21–16 Winner 2025 Korea Masters Super 300 Lee Seo-jin Hinata Suzuki Nao Yamakita 18–21, 23–25 Runner-up

BWF Grand Prix (3 titles, 3 runners-up) The BWF Grand Prix had two levels, the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Gold. It was a series of badminton tournaments sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and played between 2007 and 2017.

Women's doubles Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result 2012 Macau Open Choi Hye-in Eom Hye-won Jang Ye-na 18–21, 16–21 Runner-up 2013 Korea Grand Prix Gold Jang Ye-na Go Ah-ra Yoo Hae-won 21–15, 21–12 Winner 2016 Indonesian Masters Chae Yoo-jung Jongkolphan Kititharakul Rawinda Prajongjai 21–18, 22–20 Winner 2016 Korea Masters Chae Yoo-jung Jung Kyung-eun Shin Seung-chan 14–21, 14–21 Runner-up 2017 Chinese Taipei Open Chae Yoo-jung Kim Hye-rin Yoo Hae-won 21–12, 21–11 Winner 2017 Korea Masters Kong Hee-yong Lee So-hee Shin Seung-chan 18–21, 21–23 Runner-up BWF Grand Prix Gold tournament BWF Grand Prix tournament

BWF International Challenge/Series (2 titles) Women's doubles Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result 2017 Osaka International Yoo Hae-won Ayako Sakuramoto Yukiko Takahata 16–21, 21–17, 21–19 Winner 2026 Singapore International Jung Kyung-eun Kim Yu-jung Lee Yu-lim 24–22, 21–14 Winner BWF International Challenge tournament BWF International Series tournament