Joo-bong tells of panic and trauma after happy send-off

He’ll be OK: Youth and Sports minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman consoling Kento Momota’s coach Park Joo-bong during his visit at the Putrajaya Hospital. — MOHD SAHAR MISNI/ The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Park Joo-bong and his mates were in happy mood as they gathered at the hotel lobby to send off Malaysian Masters champion Kento Momota and two others in a van to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport for their trip home to Japan. In about half an hour, everything changed.

The South Korean, who is now coaching Japan, received the dreaded phone call.