Power Drive for Medals' Korean Table Tennis Women's Doubles 1 and 2

Aug 30, 2024

Yoon Ji-yu and Seo Soo-yeon (from left) secured a silver medal by winning the women's doubles (WD5) semifinals at the 2024 Paris Paralympics at Sud Paris Arena 4 in Paris, France, on the 30th. Yoon Ji-yu and Seo Soo-yeon, who sign hearts after successfully advancing to the finals, are in the same group. Presented by the Korea Sports Council for the Disabled

Korean table tennis women's doubles teams continue to do well at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. On the second day of the competition, he has already secured one silver and two bronze medals.

The table tennis team, led by head coach Cho Jae-kwan, played a doubles (men's, women's, mixed) match at the Sud Paris Arena 4 in Paris, France on the afternoon of the 30th (Korea time). South Korea's table tennis, which started strongly the previous day, winning six of the seven doubles matches and securing two bronze medals in the men's doubles (disability grade MD4), continued to do well on the second day. This time, she secured one silver medal (disability grade WD5) and two bronze medals (disability grade WD10) in women's doubles.

The WD5-grade women's doubles group, which was formed by Seo Soo-yeon (38, Gwangju Metropolitan City Hall) and Yoon Ji-yu (24, Seongnam City Hall), succeeded in the final, while Kang Oe-jeong (58, Gyeongsangnam-do Sports Council for the Disabled) and Lee Mi-kyu (36, Gyeongsangbuk-do Sports Council for the Disabled) and Jung Young-ah (45, Seoul City Hall) and Moon Sung-hye (46, Seongnam City Hall) also advanced to the semifinals of the WD10 grade.

Seo Soo-yeon and Yoon Ji-yu won the Women's Doubles (WD5) semifinals with a 3-0 set score (11-6 11-9 13-11) in 30 minutes with an overwhelming performance against Katia Oliveira and Joyce Oliveira (Brazil). In the last three sets, the opponent's resistance was strong, but it was not possible to change the trend. After two deuces, Seo Soo-yeon scored a strong drive, followed by an opponent's mistake, and the game ended.

Yoon Ji-yu and Seo Soo-yeon (from left) secured silver medals by winning the women's doubles (WD5) semifinals at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. Presented by the Korea Sports Council for the Disabled

Seo Soo-yeon and Yoon Ji-yu passed the quarterfinals with a bye. In other words, he secured a bronze medal and started. The first match was the semifinals. The opponent was the third-seeded Brazil team. It was not easy to see. However, there was a definite difference in skills. The last opponent of the Seo Soo-yeon-Yoon Ji Yu-jo group is Liu Jing-Xue G& of China. The final will begin at 4 a.m. on the 31st.

Seo Soo-yeon, who met in the mixed zone after the game, said "I was nervous and then it went well again. He continued to work with Jiyu and used the operation. Thanks to you, I came to victory. I wasn't very nervous, but my body seemed to be nervous. We played each other saying, "Let's do it well."," he said. Yoon Ji-yu also seems to have a good balance with sister " (Seo Soo-yeon). Let's do what we want to do well. We do it while supporting each other. My sister is supporting me, and I'm hitting myself and going like that."

Only the final is left. Seo Soo-yeon is in the process of reaching the quarterfinals. The ultimate goal is a gold medal. I will definitely win the gold medal in the final." Yoon Ji-yu also said, `There will be a moment of crisis in the final as well. I will pass it well and put the gold medal on my neck, he said with determination.

Lee Mi-kyu and Kang Oe-jeong (from left) are making high fives after winning the round of 16 at the Women's Table Tennis Doubles (WD10) at the 2024 Paris Paralympics at Sud Paris Arena 4 in Paris, France on the 29th (Korea time). Presented by the Korea Sports Council for the Disabled

Earlier, Kang Oe-jeong, Lee Mi-gyu, Jung Young-ah, and Moon Sung-hye-jo also advanced to the semifinals in the WD10 grade. He has secured two bronze medals. Winning all the semifinals will complete the best scenario for Korean teams to compete for gold medals. It is the same situation as men's doubles (MD4).

Kang Oe-jung and Lee Mi-kyu, who came from behind to win a thrilling come-from-behind victory against Germany in the round of 16, went first. Of course, the quarterfinal match was 'the strongest enemy'. The world's No. 1 Gui Yan-Zhou Ying, who received the No. 1 seed. Both athletes are legends of Paralympic table tennis and the strongest in the world. They each won seven gold medals at the Paralympics alone.

Gigi En has won a total of seven gold medals in individual and team events, including three consecutive singles (class 5) titles in London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. Zhou Ying also collected seven gold medals in individual and team events, including singles (class 4) gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Games, 2012 London and 2020 Tokyo Games. It can be said that the so-called 'world view is the strongest.

However, Kang Oe-jeong and Lee Mi-gyu did not shrink at all. Perhaps because of the vaccination in the round of 16, he calmly played the game. Kang Oe-jeong led the game like a veteran. Lee Mi-gyu also showed a powerful play.

Kang Oe-jeong and Lee Mi-gyu won the first set 12-10 after deuce and succeeded in gaining the upper hand. He continued his momentum and easily won the second set 11-3. Even the "world's strongest duo" did not allow an easy victory. Taking the third and fourth sets, they brought the game back to square one with a set score of 2-2.

Five sets of destiny. There was a fierce battle until the middle. However, Kang Oe-jung's calmness and Lee Mi-kyu's fighting spirit destroyed the stronghold of the strongest duo. In the end, they won 11-7 in nine minutes, finishing with a 3-2 set score (12-10, 11-3, 7-11, 3-11, 11-7).

Moon Sung-hye and Jung Young-ah, who competed in the women's table tennis doubles (WD10) at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, are encouraging each other and conducting interviews after winning the quarterfinals at Sud Paris Arena 4 in France on the 30th. Presented by the Korea Sports Council for the Disabled

Jung Young-ah and Moon Sung-hye-jo (2nd seed) then secured the bronze medal by beating eighth-seeded Babinaben Patel and Sonalben Pateljo of India 3-1 (11-5 11-6 9-1 11-6).

Jung Young-ah and Moon Sung-hye will play in the semifinals against China's other strong team, Pan Jia-min and Gu Xiaodan (fourth seed) on the afternoon of the 31st. Kang Oe-jung - Lee Mi-kyu faces Serbia's Matic Nadda - Perik Lankovic Borislavazo (3rd seed) in the semifinals. Attention is focusing on whether the two Korean women's doubles (WD10) teams will be able to meet in the final beyond the semifinal stage.

wman@sportschosun.com