Kim Young-gun wins gold medal in individual table tennis for the first time in 12 years, and Korean team achieves 120% target in Paris

Sep 08, 2024

Kim Young-gun is cheering right after winning the men's singles final at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games held in the early morning of the 8th. Presented by the Korea Sports Council for the Disabled

The 12-year wait has led to gold fruit. Kim Young-gun (40, Gwangju Metropolitan City Hall), who is the table tennis team's 'Turkey' and leaves a big footprint in the Korean Paralympic Games, has become a singles gold medalist again after three Paralympic stage challenges over 12 years.

In addition, the South Korean team, which participated in the 2024 Paris Paralympics, won its sixth gold medal in this competition with Kim Young-gun's gold medal, exceeding the original goal of gold medal (five).

Kim Young-gun won the men's singles (MS4) final match at South Paris Arena 4 in Paris, France, with a set score of 3-2 (6-1 11-9 11-7 9-11 11-5) against the world's top-ranked powerhouse Wanchai Chai.

Kim Young-gun is carefully backhand receiving in the men's singles final at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games held in the early morning of the 8th. Presented by the Korea Sports Council for the Disabled

With this gold medal, Kim Young-gun will win his fifth Paralympic gold medal. This is the joint second-highest Paralympic gold medal among Korean athletes ever. It is a tie with Kim Im-yeon (shooting, 5), following Lee Hae-gon (table tennis, 7). Kim Young-gun is a regular at the Paralympics. From the 2004 Athens Paralympics to the Paris Paralympics, where he first participated, he won a total of eight medals (5 gold and 3 silver), including five gold medals, in a total of six Paralympics.

Kim Young-gun, a member of the table tennis team, smiles brightly at the awards ceremony after winning the men's singles gold medal at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. Presented by the Korea Sports Council for the Disabled

Tong table tennis men at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. Presented by the Korea Sports Council for the Disabled

Kim Young-gun seemed to lead comfortably in the beginning. Led early with a set-score 2-1. However, the world's No. 1 Tsai is by no means an easy player to look at. He calmly fought back and won a dramatic come-from-behind victory in the fourth set. Kim Young-gun took the lead until the middle of the set. However, the pursuit of the neighborhood came in frighteningly.

Kim Young-gun tried to take the lead again after the game. However, with his outstanding defense, Chai-woo got all of Kim Young-gun's sharp drive smash and backhand drive. Then I waited for Kim Young-gun to make a mistake. Kim Young-gun, who was stopped by the operation, eventually gave up to the fourth set, bringing the game to square one.

Kim Young-gun (left) of the Korean Paralympic table tennis team holds up the Korean national flag and shouts "fighting" after winning the men's singles gold medal at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games. Presented by the Korea Sports Council for the Disabled

Usually, it falls apart here. However, Kim Young-gun turned it into an opportunity for a rebound. From the beginning of the fifth set, the opponent's mistake, edge, and Kim Young-gun's aim worked, leading to a 5-0 run. In the end, the world's No. 1 failed to narrow the gap to the end. Kim Young-gun scored the last 11 points and turned his fist around. He said "My neighbor was a strong player in front of me, so I tried to shake the corner a lot, but it worked"It was so hard and stressful because I had long rupture while exercising on a dislocated shoulder in April. I was able to come all the way here because people around me helped me a lot"Then he smiled broadly as if he was relieved.

Meanwhile, Kim Jung-gil, who won the bronze medal following gold medalist Kim Young-gun, entered the ceremony together, and two Korean flags went up high at South Paris Arena 4.

wman@sportschosun.com