Shin Yu-bin-Im Jong Hoon-jo, Paris' mixed blessing No. 2 seed in crisis...If you win today's Harimoto group, you will come from behind
Jul 07, 2024
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""Japan ace group" Tomokazu Harimoto-Hayata Hinazo beat "Taiwan ace group" Lin Yun-ju-Chentzujo 3-1 in the mixed doubles final of the World Table Tennis (WTT) Star Contender Bangkok held in Thailand on the 6th (Korea time). If he beats Wong Chun-ting and Du Hoikemjo in the final, he will secure 600 points and take South Korea's No. 2 seed.
Over the past few months, the match between Korea and Japan, the second seed at the Paris Olympics, has been hot. Japan, which lost to the Korean group in the semifinals of Singapore's Smash semifinals and the WTT Contender Rio final in April, threatened the Korean group to the bottom of its chin by winning three consecutive WTT Zagreb, Slovenia and Tunisia tournaments last month. Zagreb won the final round of the Slovenia tournament for two consecutive years. With South Korea in second place (4110 points) and Japan in third place (3900 points), South Korea and Japan are in a tight race by 210 points, and with 20 days to go before the opening of the Paris Olympics, South Korea-Japan rivals are competing for the final round at the WTT Star Contender Bangkok. Securing the No. 2 seed, which can avoid the strongest China until the end, was a desperate task for both South Korea and Japan, who are trying to win the mixed doubles gold medal at the Paris Olympics.
Even if Japan won this tournament, it would have been possible to defend the second seed even if South Korea had reached the semifinals. However, the worst crisis came when Shin Yu-bin and Lim Jong-hoon were beaten 2 to 3 (11-77-111 11-19-119-119-119-119-11) by Thailand's ambush group Padasak Tanbiriabechakul and Sutashini Sawetabu in the quarterfinals 'Anbang'.
The world ranking of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) is calculated based on the total score of the eight competitions with the highest performance in the past year. Each competition ranking point is given an average validity period of one year. It automatically disappears after a year, and the score of the competition with higher points is replaced with lower points. The quarterfinals points are 105 points, which is meaningless in ranking, as it is less than the existing lowest point of 210 points held by Shin-Im-jo. The final ranking point will remain at 4,110 points.
The fate of the No. 2 seed now depends on the final between Japan and Hong Kong. If the Japanese group wins, it will take 600 points, and if the existing lowest score of 280 is omitted, it will take the second seed of its dreams, leading Korea by only 110 points with 4,220. The runner-up will have 420 points and the final 40 to 40 points. Korea will secure the second seed by a 70 point margin. Wong Chun-ting and Du Hoi-Kemjo have a 3-2 advantage in the previous matches against Harimoto and Hayatajo, but were completely defeated 0-3 in the final of the recent Zagreb tournament. South Korea's No. 2 seed will be entrusted to the match between Japan and Hong Kong in the mixed doubles on the 7th.
Japanese media reported on the final of Harimoto-Hayatazo on the 6th, saying, "World No. 2 Shin Yu-bin and Lim Jong-hun-jo will lose in the quarterfinals, and if Japan wins, the No. 2 seed at the Paris Olympics will be determined. 3rd place 'Harichna'Joe is looking to turn the tables," he said, expressing anticipation.
sky4us@sportschosun.com
