Korea table tennis catches Japan, Iran…secures minimum points in men’s and women’s events, quarterfinals on Friday

South Korean table tennis will look to reach the final against Japan and Iran in the men’s and women’s team events, respectively.

The quarterfinal match of the women’s team event at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games at GSP Gymnasium on Thursday afternoon in Hangzhou, China. South Korea’s women’s table tennis team, led by head coach Oh Kwang-heon, defeated Hong Kong 3-1 to reach the quarterfinals.

As there is no bronze medal match in table tennis at the Asian Games, the Koreans have secured the bronze medal for now.

However, their quarterfinal opponent on Friday at 12 noon will be Japan, who are ranked one spot above Korea. Japan defeated Chinese Taipei 3-0 in the quarterfinals with Hina Hayata, Miu Hirano and Miwa Harimoto.

Korea got off to a shaky start in the quarterfinals, with Shin Yubin falling 1-3 (9-11, 12-10, 8-11, 7-11) to Du Hoikem in the No. 1 singles matchup.

However, Jeon Jeon-hee turned things around with a 3-1 (8-11, 11-9, 11-7, 13-11) victory over Joo Cheong-joo in the second singles, and Seo Hyo-won edged out Li Ho-ching 3-2 (6-11, 11-6, 11-6, 4-11, 11-8) in the third singles.

Shin Yubin closed out the match with a 3-0 (11-7, 11-7, 11-6) victory over Joo Cheong-Joo in the fourth singles.

In the other quarterfinal match of the day, the Korean men’s table tennis team, led by head coach Joo Se-hyuk, defeated dark horse India 3-0.

The Koreans will face Iran in the quarterfinals. Iran defeated powerhouse Japan in the quarterfinals.

Joo rested first and second singles players Jang Woo-jin and Lim Jong-hoon (Korea Exchange) and used Ahn Jae-hyun (Korea Exchange), Park Kang-hyun (Korea Water Resources Corporation), and Oh Jun-sung (Mirae Asset Securities) for the win.먹튀검증

In the first singles, Ahn Jae-hyun defeated Desai Harmit 3-0 (11-9, 11-8, 11-9) and Park Kang-hyun defeated Gnanasekaran Sathiyan 3-2 (10-12, 5-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-6) in the second singles.

In the third singles, the youngest player at 17, Oh Jun-sung, defeated Achanta Sharad Kamal 3-2 (2-11, 11-9, 11-1, 2-11, 12-10). The 17-year-old, who earlier in the day became the youngest Korean table tennis player to qualify for the Asian Games, endured another tough match to seal the win for Korea.

Iran caused an upset in the day’s quarterfinals, with twin brothers Alamiyan Nima-Nosad defeating Japanese stars Tomokazu Harimoto and Shunsuke Togami, while Hodaei Seyedamir Hossein upset veteran Maharu Yoshimura. All three matches went to full games.