Korean table tennis ‘Legend’ Korean Air coach Joo Se-hyuk praised the youth team for winning the world stage.
The youth team erased the pain of no medals at the 2024 Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Youth Championships held in Helsingborg, Sweden from the 22nd to the 29th of last month, winning one gold, four silver, and three bronze medals.
The gold medal was harvested in the under-19 women’s team event, which included Yoo Young-rin (Hwaseong City Corporation), the daughter of Yoo Nam-kyu, Park Ga-hyun (Korean Air), Choi Na-hyun and Kim Tae-min (Hosu Don Girls’ High School).
South Korea won the title by beating the world’s strongest China in the semi-finals and catching Taiwan in the final.
It is the first time for Korea to win in a team event since the inauguration of the World Youth Championship in 2003. Prior to this year’s championship, Korea had reached the finals five times in men’s team event and one time in women’s team event, but was the runner-up in all competitions.
“I was touched when I watched the games,” Joo, who was known as a “cleaver” and the strongest player in defensive table tennis during his time as an active player, said of the youth team’s performance. “It resonated greatly with Korean table tennis,” Joo said. “There are cases where national team players play with the recognition that they are behind China, but this time, young players showed their determination to win and did not lose. They encouraged Korean table tennis.”
Coach Joo then watched the remarkable growth of players who did not go to high school after graduating from middle school and immediately joined the unemployment team.
Coach Joo said, “Yoo Ji-rin, Oh Jun-sung (Mirae Asset Securities), and Park Ga-hyun have been effective in improving their skills by performing professional training with players at a higher level than themselves,” adding, “Shin Yu-bin (Korean Air), Kim Na-young (Posco International), and Park Kyu-hyun (Mirae Asset Securities) are successful examples.”
The generational change of table tennis in Korea is progressing smoothly. Shin Yoo-bin (20), who has established himself as a leading player in the Korean national team, Ahn Jae-hyun (25) of the Korea Exchange, Kim Na-young (19), and Cho Dae-sung (22) of the Samsung Life Insurance are drawing attention.
Oh Jun-sung (18), who participated in this competition, won a bronze medal at the Asian Championships in October, causing a stir that defeated the world’s strongest Wang Chuqin of China.
Coach Joo said, “If young players grow up further in two to three years, it can be a stimulus to adult national team players. Generational change will take place naturally and there will be synergy effects.” 온라인카지노
