'Next-generation ping pong ace' Kim Ki-tae succeeded in men's singles final. First try of table tennis 金!

Sep 05, 2024

Smash Kim Ki-tae. Presented by the Korea Sports Council for the Disabled

Kim Ki-tae (26, Seoul Metropolitan Government), the rising star of Korean table tennis, is trying to win his first gold medal in table tennis, which has yet to be won at the 2024 Paris Paralympics.

World No. 3 Kim Ki-tae caused a stir on the night of the 5th (Korea time) by beating world No. 1 opponent Samuel Bon Ainem (Australia) by a set score of 3-1 (11-58-111 11-9 15-13) in the semifinals of the men's table tennis singles (sports grade MS11) held at South Paris Arena 4 in Paris, France. With this, Kim Ki-tae will try to win the gold medal for the last time in table tennis.

Cheering Kim Ki-tae. Presented by the Korea Sports Council for the Disabled

Korean table tennis has reached the final twice so far at the Paris Paralympics, but both have won silver medals. Jang Young-jin and Park Sung-joo in the men's doubles (MD4) and Seo Soo-yeon and Yoon Ji-yu in the women's doubles (WD5) all lost in the final unfortunately. Kim Ki-tae is the last 'golden hope' for the table tennis team. Kim Ki-tae will play a gold medal match against Taiwan's Jeon Je-yan (world No. 5) at 3:15 a.m. on the 6th.

Kim Ki-tae faced a crisis in the fourth set with a 2-1 set score. Reached the game point 10-6, but lost four consecutive points. I missed the situation where I could finish the game. However, Kim Ki-tae maintained his pace by taking a deep breath. In the end, after four deuces, Kim Ki-tae scored two consecutive points at 13-13, ending the game.

Kim Ki-tae, an intellectually disabled person, started playing table tennis at his father's recommendation when he was in the third grade of elementary school. He emerged as a new star of Korean table tennis, winning three gold medals at the 2022 World Para Table Tennis Championships.

Courtesy of the Korean Sports Council for the Disabled

Kim Ki-tae challenged for the final gold medal, but Seo Soo-yeon (38, Gwangju Metropolitan City), the world No. 1 in women's table tennis, shed tears after losing again to Liu Jing (36, China, world No. 3). "God doesn't seem to be on my side," he said with regret. This is because Liu Jing has repeatedly been caught on the big stage.

Seo Soo-yeon met Liu Jing again in the semifinals of the women's singles (sports grade WS1 and 2). This is Seo Soo-yeon, who already met Liu Jing in the singles final at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games and the singles final at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games. The result was all defeat. Liu Jing stole the gold medal. She also lost the women's doubles final at the Paris Paralympics. Seo Soo-yeon, who competed in pairs with Yoon Ji-yu, had to settle for a silver medal after losing to Liu Jing-Xue Zuan Jo.

Seo Soo-yeon aimed for a happy ending. If I win this match, I thought I could clean up the disappointment of losing three consecutive games earlier. Liu Jing did not allow this. In the end, Seo Soo-yeon lost the set score 2-3 (11-58-117-117-112-1011-113) after a close game in the full set. The second set was the most disappointing. Seo Soo-yeon, who easily won the first set 11-5, led the second set 8-4. However, due to pelvic pain, he lost seven consecutive points and gave up the set. Seo Soo-yeon, who also lost the third set 7-11, won the fourth set after deuce and entered the last five sets.

Jang Young-jin hanging the drive. Presented by the Korea Sports Council for the Disabled

The ending was not a happy ending. He made 11-11 deuce in the fifth set, but lost 11-13 after conceding two points. With this, Seo had to settle for the bronze medal. Paralympic table tennis gives bronze medals to all players who advance to the semifinals without playing the third and fourth place matches. As a result, Seo Soo-yeon won one silver medal (women's doubles) and one bronze medal (fast) in this competition.

Meanwhile, Jang Young-jin (31, Seoul Metropolitan Government) also received a bronze medal as he lost to China's Peng Pan Feng 0-3 (9-114-119-11) in the semi-finals of the men's singles sports grade MS3.

wman@sportschosun.com