Park Mi Hyun is Korea's prolific striker, who has scored so many goals in the decade she has spent as an international that she has lost count. When we spoke, the 28-year-old from Seoul was not happy. "I am very dissatisfied with our performance," she said. Korea were playing in the Champions Challenge 1 in Glasgow and had come into the tournament as favourites to win. "We wanted to qualify for the Champions Trophy," said Mi Hyun, "But we have not played well and now we are just playing for minor places." (Korea finished fifth, after beating Belgium in their final game.)

Two-week break
Even more galling for Mi Hyun was the fact that her own performance was hampered by injury. She picked up an ankle injury when playing in the Hawkes Bay Festival of Hockey in New Zealand three weeks previously. "I can not make the movement for my teammates to find me," she said, and despite her coach's protestations she was clearly blaming herself for her team's failure to perform in Glasgow. Once the Champions Challenge 1 finished, Mi Hyun and her team were looking forward to a two-week break before the intensity was ramped up again. "We finished playing in New Zealand and then came here. We have played a lot of high intensity hockey in the last few weeks and the whole team is tired," said Mi Hyun. "Personally, I need two weeks to make a full recovery from my ankle injury. I want to be on top form for the World Cup."

High aspirations
Korea women are currently ranked 8th in the world, and both Mi Hyun and her captain, Jong Eun Kim have high aspirations for The Hague. "Sure we want a medal," said Mi Hyun, but where Jong Eun was reserved and just said that any colour would do, Mi Hyun smiled and said "Gold." The striker hopes that hockey will have a higher profile in Korea. "Currently Taekwondo is the biggest sport in South Korea, with football, baseball, volleyball and basketball, also popular. I would like to be seen as a role model  who inspires young girls to choose hockey, but to do that we must win medals."

No plans to stop
Mi Hyun has a degree in physical education but she is currently a professional hockey player, receiving funding from the government. "It is good money and I love playing hockey," she says, adding that she has no plans to stop playing and start teaching for a while. "I will coach when I finish playing, but I am only 28-years-old and I hope to keep playing, at least until Rio 2016."