Korean table tennis 'Secret Hidden Card' Jang Young-jin-Park Sung-joo, a great achievement to the final of the men's doubles (MD4). Cha Soo-yong - Park Jin-chul harvests bronze

Aug 31, 2024

Jang Young-jin (31, Seoul Metropolitan Government) and Park Sung-joo (45, Toyota Korea) of the men's doubles (MD4) prepared by the Korean table tennis team with "Hidden Card" succeeded in advancing to the final by winning the semifinals of the men's doubles at the 2024 Paris Paralympics at 1 p.m. on the 31st (Korea time) at Sud Paris Arena 4 in Paris, France. Presented by the Korea Sports Council for the Disabled

Jang Young-jin (31, Seoul Metropolitan Government) and Park Sung-joo (45, Toyota Korea) of the men's doubles (MD4) prepared by the Korean table tennis team with 'Hidden Card' is amazing to reach the final of the 2024 Paris Paralympics. Having secured at least a silver medal on their first Paralympic stage, they are now about to complete 'Gold Smashing'.

Jang Young-jin and Park Sung-joo succeeded in advancing to the final by winning a set score of 3-1 (11-89-11 11-6 11-6 11-6 11-6 11-6 11-6 11-6 in the men's doubles (MD4) semifinals at the Paris Paralympic Games at 1 p.m. on the 31st (Korea time) at Sud Paris Arena 4.

This is the first time for both athletes to participate in the Paralympics. Jang Young-jin won the gold medal in the men's doubles (MD4) in collaboration with Joo Young-dae (51) during the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games for the Disabled. In the individual singles, he won the bronze medal. However, the Paralympic stage was still an unknown space for Jang Young-jin. Jang Young-jin started playing table tennis after shooting after becoming a spinal cord disorder in a car accident in 2013 when he was a physical education student. Since then, my dream has been to win a Paralympic gold medal.

Park Sung-joo, who always lives with gratitude to his wife, has never performed on the Paralympic stage. I have never participated in the Paralympic Games, let alone the Paralympic Games. He is a typical 'standby type' player. Being disabled in a car accident in 2008, he says he has learned to communicate with others through table tennis.

It is from 2023 that it has made a full-fledged appearance on the international stage. To participate in the Paris Paralympics, he traveled to as many as 13 countries in a year to make his name known by performing at the International Open. He ranked first in men's singles at the Greek Open, Jordan Open, and Thailand Open, and won doubles at the Japanese Open and Jordan Open. After all this hard work, I got a ticket to Paris.

Jang Young-jin and Park Sung-joo, who met in this way, were the table tennis team 'Secret Card'. Joo Young-dae, who was originally Jang Young-jin's partner, was excluded from the doubles group to focus on singles in Paris, and he worked with Park Sung-joo. Their combination was fantastic. The true value was revealed in the semifinals. Park Sung-joo's anomalous attack using a unique 'backhand long-pimble rubber' was accompanied by Jang Young-jin's fast and powerful hole, creating a special synergy effect.

Jang Young-jin and Park Sung-joo, who won the first set lightly against the French group, allowed a chase late in the second set and gave up the set 9-11. However, he regained control of the game from the third set. Jang Young-jin and Park Sung-joo, who made it 9-5 with three consecutive points at 6-5, reached the set point first by giving and receiving one point each. Following Park Sung-jin's strong spin serve, Jang Young-jin's powerful backhand smash burst to grab the third set.

In the fourth set, he showed even more power. After pushing the opponent from the beginning, he widened the score gap to 7-1 to win the game. However, France, with the unilateral support of home fans on its back, gradually pulled the reins of the chase and followed it to 9-6. The Korean bench immediately called time to block the opponent's momentum. Jang Young-jin and Park Sung-joo, who regained their concentration, lightly added two points to end the game.

Park Sung-joo, who reached the final on his first Paralympic stage, said, "Playing against the French team worried about the cheering sound of the home audience. It felt like I was at a ballpark. But partner Jang Young-jin 'Let's think of it as a shout for us. I was able to do my best by saying, 'Let's just focus on ours.'Even when he was chased by the fourth set, he would have been shaken greatly if it were singles. However, doubles can be comforted by each other and solved while talking. I was able to trust my partner and play a better game," he said, thanking Jang Young-jin.

Jang Young-jin said "Sung Joo-hyung was pointed out once because of his serve height. You may be lost in mind at that time, but please focus well and get good results"I also thanked my partner. Then "Today's game became a good experience. I will not let my guard down even if I win in the final. It would have been the best if the Korean teams had been against each other in the final, but it was a bit unfortunate. Now that I've come to this, I'll make sure to win the gold medal."

Courtesy of the Korean Sports Council for the Disabled

Meanwhile, Cha Soo-yong (44, Daegu Metropolitan City Hall) and Park Jin-cheol (42, Gwangju Metropolitan City Hall), who succeeded in advancing to the semifinals together with Jang Young-jin and Park Sung-joo, raised expectations for the 'Korean team's final match', failed to advance to the final by losing 2-3 to Slovakia. Still, he succeeded in winning a valuable bronze medal. In Paralympic table tennis, both France and South Korea, who failed to advance to the finals because they did not play the third and fourth places separately, will be awarded bronze medals.

wman@sportschosun.com