Ri Kum-Suk
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| Ri Kum-Suk | ||
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| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ri Kum-Suk | |
| Date of birth | August 16, 1978 | |
| Place of birth | Pyongyang, North Korea | |
| Height | 1.71 m (5 ft 71⁄2 in) | |
| Playing position | Central Forward | |
| Club information | ||
| Current club | April 25 Sports Group | |
| Number | 10 | |
| Senior clubs1 | ||
| Years | Club | App (Gls)* |
| ? - Present | April 25 Sports Group | 178 (125) |
| National team2 | ||
| 1998 | DPR Korea | 65 (40) |
|
1 Senior club appearances and goals |
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Ri Kum-Suk(Korean: 리금숙; August 16, 1978-) is a North Korean footballer who plays for April 25 Sports Group. She plays a key role not only for her club, but also for her national teams in the AFC Women's Asian Cup, Asian Games and FIFA Women's World Cup.
[edit] Club career
Ri Kum-Suk began her international career from 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup at age of 20, when her team couldn't get out of the group, losing to Nigeria and USA as 2-1, 3-0, and making a sunrise win over Denmark, 3-1. She played as a midfielder during those games, supporting their young and talent striker Jin Byol-Hui.
In 4 years, PRK Women's National Team again qualified to the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup and Ri played as a key player of the team with her friend Jin Byol-Hui. Short No. 7 on her back, she showed her potentials and talents to the world, with the sweet revenge over Nigeria as 3-0, striking 5 times of Shot and 2 times of Shot on goals to the goalpost. Even though, her team couldn't proceed to the semi-quarterfinals, she played very well in last two games against Sweden and USA, 6 times of Shot and 1 times of SOG.
In 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup was the most unforgettable game for her. Qualifying to the finals, by taking 3rd place in 2006 AFC Women's Championship with the wrong judgment of referee during the game against China PR, her team belonged to Group B with USA, Sweden and Nigeria.
At their very first game against USA, Ri Kum-Suk and her friends shook the football world again. With the injury of key midfielder Ho Sun-Hui at 10 minutes in the first half, they had a very tough game and conceded a goal 50 minutes to USA, but they did not fall down and finally changed the situation by scoring at 58 minutes and 62 minutes. In 69 minutes, they again had to let the USA to score,by mistake of defender,but it was enough to surprise the world. Ri Kum-Suk scored in the next game against Nigeria with her special head shot and also played enough against Sweden to get out of the group stage.
The most game she showed her strike and dribble skill was against China PR in the 15th Doha Asian Games, when two team tied after 90 minutes. Ri Kum-Suk scored goal in the 2nd extra time, by taking off a defender and striking a powerful shot with her left foot.
Ri Kum-suk hat-trick sent D.P.R.K into the final of the AFC Women's Asian Cup after they defeated Australia 3-0 at Thong Nat Stadium in the 2007 AFC Women's Asian Cup.
She is the captain of their national team and is regarded as a football hero in her country.
