2024-07-25 00:12:15
The mixed doubles table tennis team of Lim Jong-hoon (27, Korea Exchange) and Shin Yu-bin (20, Korean Air), who are aiming for a medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, did not have good luck. The best-case scenario of avoiding China until the semifinals, which they had hoped for, did not come true.
The draw for the Paris Olympic table tennis matches held at Arena 4 in South Paris, France on the 25th (Korean time) confirmed the draw for Lim Jong-hoon and Shin Yu-bin.
Lim Jong-hoon and Shin Yu-bin, ranked 3rd in the world, received the 3rd seed and played against the 4th seeded pair of Wong Chun-ting and Du Hoi Kem (Hong Kong).
The spots for the first seeds Wang Chuqin-Sun Yingsha and the second seeds Tomokazu Harimoto-Hinazo Hayata have been decided, and the spots for Korea and Hong Kong will be decided by lottery.
If they were seeded as the 2nd seed, they would avoid having to face the ‘strong title contender’ China until the finals, but there was a 50% chance that they would turn away from Lim Jong-hoon and Shin Yu-bin.
In the end, if Lim Jong-hoon and Shin Yu-bin survive from the round of 16, there is a very high possibility that they will meet the Chinese team in the semifinals.
On the other hand, Wong Chun-ting and Du Hoi-kem were lucky enough to avoid China until the final despite being seeded fourth.
The first opponent for the Im Jong-hoon-Shin Yu-bin pair has been decided to be Germany’s Chiu Dang-Nina Mittelham (ranked 11th).
If they win in the round of 16, they will face the winner of the Romania-Australia match in the quarterfinals.
![‘50% chance missed’ Im Jong-hoon and Shin Yu-bin, couldn’t avoid China… First opponent is Germany [올림픽]](https://dimg.donga.com/wps/NEWS/IMAGE/2024/07/25/126107473.2.jpg "‘50% chance missed’ Im Jong-hoon and Shin Yu-bin, couldn’t avoid China… First opponent is Germany [올림픽]")
Korea’s table tennis team, aiming for its first Olympic medal in 12 years since the 2012 London Games (silver in the men’s team event), is pinning high hopes on the mixed doubles event at this competition.
However, it is highly likely that they will meet China in the semifinals, so advancing to the finals will not be easy. If Lim Jong-hoon and Shin Yu-bin lose in the semifinals, their opponents in the bronze medal match will likely be Hong Kong or Japan.
North Korea’s Ri Jong-sik-Kim Kum-young pair will face second-seeded Harimoto-Hayata in the round of 16. Their performance is shrouded in mystery as they have not participated in many international competitions.
On this day, the brackets for all detailed events, including mixed doubles, men’s and women’s singles, and men’s and women’s team events, were all confirmed.
Jang Woo-jin (29, Mirae Asset Securities), seeded 8th in the men’s singles, will face Daniel Gonzalez (Puerto Rico) in the round of 64. Jo Dae-sung (22, Samsung Life), who is also competing, will face the winner of Kanak Ja (USA) – Vladislav Ursu (Moldova) in the round of 64.
If Jang Woo-jin advances to the quarterfinals, he will face world number one seed Wang Chuqin, and if Jo Dae-sung advances to the round of 16, he will face second seed Pan Zhendong (China).
Women’s singles 4th seed Shin Yu-bin will face Melissa Tapper (Australia) in the round of 64. Jeon Ji-hee (32, Mirae Asset Securities) will face Fuyu (Portugal).
Highly seeded Shin Yu-bin will face second seed Chen Meng (China) if she advances to the semifinals, while Jeon Ji-hee will face world number one seed Sun Yingsha in the round of 16.
The women’s team event featuring Shin Yu-bin, Jeon Ji-hee, and Lee Eun-hye (29, Korean Air) will face Brazil in the round of 16. This matchup could also see China in the semifinals.
The first opponent for the men’s team event, featuring Jang Woo-jin, Lim Jong-hoon, and Jo Dae-seong, is Croatia. However, if they win, they will face the winner of China-India in the quarterfinals, so it is expected to be a tough fight.
The Paris Olympic table tennis competition will begin with the mixed doubles and men’s and women’s singles on the 27th (local time) and will continue until August 10th with five gold medals to be won.
(Paris=News 1)
2024-07-25 00:12:15