South Korea’s women’s table tennis team swept aside ‘nemesis’ Thailand to top their group and advance to the quarterfinals of the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games.
The Korean women’s table tennis team, coached by Oh Kwang-heon, defeated Thailand 3-0 with a match score of 3-0 in the second match of the women’s team competition in Group D at the Archer Canal Sports Park Gymnasium in Hangzhou, China on Wednesday afternoon.
Korea was represented by Shin Yubin (No. 9-Korean Air), Jeon Ji-hee (No. 33-Mirae Asset Securities) and Seo Hyo-won (No. 60-Korea Horse Society).
Thailand has been the most prominent rising team in Southeast Asian women’s table tennis in recent years, so a tough match was expected.
After a 3-0 win over Pakistan in the morning, Korea swept Thailand to top the group and advance to the quarterfinals.
With their first round victory, they will not face either China or Japan until the quarterfinals.
South Korea will play the winner of the Round of 16 on Thursday.
The tournament’s bracket will be finalized in a draw that will take place after the group stage concludes on Wednesday.
South Korea will be trying to reach the final for the first time in 33 years since the 1990 Beijing Games, where they won the silver medal.
The highly anticipated “return match” between Shin Yoo-bin and Thai hopeful Orawan Paranang (No. 67) was canceled due to conflicting orders.
Shin had lost to Paranang in the round of 16 singles at the Asian Championships in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, earlier this month.
Shin opened with a 3-0 (11-3 11-9 11-5) win over Thailand’s ace Sutasini Sawetabut (ranked 39th).
In the second singles, Jeon Ji-hee defeated Paranang 3-0 (11-4 11-2 11-8), while Seo Hyo-won completed the shutout with a 3-0 (11-9 11-8 11-9) win over Tamolwan Ketkuan in the third singles.
In the second match of the men’s team competition, Joo Se-hyuk’s men’s team defeated Thailand 3-0 in Group C to clinch a spot in the quarterfinals atop the group.
The men’s team will also avoid China and Japan in the quarterfinals.
At No. 1 singles, Lim Jong-hoon (No. 17-Korea Exchange) defeated Sarayut Thancharoen (No. 642) 3-1 (11-7 7-11 11-4 12-10) and Ahn Jae-hyun (No. 38-Korea Exchange) defeated Pakpum Sangguasin (No. 648) 3-0 (11-5 13-11 11-8).
At No. 3 singles, Oh Jun-sung (No. 97-Mirae Asset Securities) defeated CitiSac Nuchichart (No. 645) 3-0 (11-8 11-1 11-7).
Oh, who dropped out of high school late last year at the age of 17, became the youngest Korean men’s table tennis player ever to compete in the Asian Games.
Oh is the son of Oh Sang, who won seven silver and two bronze medals at the Asian Games and one silver and one bronze at the Olympics. 토토