Korean table tennis 'Hidden Card' Jang Young-jin-Park Sung-joo doubles team, silver medal at the first Paralympics. Two Korean flags fluttered on the stage of the award ceremony
Sep 01, 2024
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The Korean table tennis team's ambitious 'Hidden Card' duo for the 2024 Paris Paralympics could not easily lift their heads. Missing the gold medal that was in front of me seemed to have made my heart heavy. However, both made their first Paralympic Games and achieved a valuable silver medal. No one can undercut their efforts. He was confidently second in the world.
Jang Young-jin (31, Seoul Metropolitan Government) and Park Sung-joo (45, Toyota Korea), who competed in the men's doubles (MD4 grade) at the Paris Paralympics, made an outstanding achievement of silver medal on the first Paralympic stage. Both of them reached the final at the Paralympics, defeating world powers one after another. However, the last hurdle to the gold medal did not pass.
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After the game, Park Sung-joo and Jang Young-jin couldn't even raise their heads properly. This is because expectations were so high that 'I can win a gold medal' were high. Especially, I didn't like the performance of the final. Both players said in unison "It's too bad" repeated the words.
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At the Hangzhou Asian Para Games last year, he won the gold medal by pairing with Joo Young-dae (51), a "veteran ace." However, Joo Young-dae, who felt burdened by his physical strength ahead of the Paris Paralympics, decided to go all-in on singles and met his new partner.
Park Sung-joo, the icon of `Standing Alien' has become Jang Young-jin's new partner. Park Sung-joo, who became a spinal cord disorder in a car accident in 2008, had no experience at the Paralympics or the Asian Para Games before this event. Slowly but surely, it has grown toward the Taegeuk mark. Park Sung-joo's full-fledged prominence on the international stage began in 2023. He traveled to as many as 13 countries in a year to participate in the Paris Paralympics and achieved results 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. That's how he was selected as Jang's new partner.
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The tight race was repeated until the middle of each set. The first set was pushed to 7-10 due to a series of mistakes in a 6-6 tie. Jang Young-jin came forward aggressively and chased to the 10-10 deuce. After a long rally, he lost one point because he couldn't stop the opponent's surprise attack, and he lost the first set due to overlapping mistakes.
In the second set, he successfully fought back. With a 8-7 lead, Jang Young-jin scored three consecutive points with a strong smash to end the set. The chase of 7-8 in the third set unfolded. Here, Park Sung-joo's receiving and Jang Young-jin's smash hit the top of the net one after another and left the table tennis table.
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After the game, Park Sung-joo said "Partner (Jang Young-jin) did his part. I was so bad. He handed it over well to make it easy for his opponent to attack. That's where the atmosphere went over. Too bad. I should have improved even in the middle of the game. I tried but it didn't go my way. That's how I gave up the game"I looked back. Then "If I had done my best, and showed everything I could, I would be less disappointed. It isn't that. I just handed it over easily. It hurts my heart so much." he bowed.
Jang Young-jin also said, `A really good opportunity came, but I missed it. I'm so sad. Thank you to your hard-working partner (Park Sung-joo). I want to tell you that you've worked hard." It was the same that he couldn't raise his head properly.
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Paris (France) = Reporter Lee Won-man wman@sportschosun.com
wman@sportschosun.com
