Faded Shin Yubin's Fierce Fight... Women's Table Tennis Blocked by Germany, Semifinal Bid Thwarted

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Our women's table tennis team narrowly lost to Germany at the threshold of the team event semifinals, finishing the 2020 Tokyo Olympics with 'no medals.'

The Korean women's table tennis team, composed of Shin Yu-bin (17, Korean Air), Jeon Ji-hee (29, POSCO Energy), and Choi Hyo-joo (23, Samsung Life), was defeated 2-3 by Germany, whose lineup included Han Ying (38), Shan Xiaona (38), and Petrissa Solja (27), in the quarterfinals held on the 3rd at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium in Japan.

Korean women's table tennis has not won an Olympic medal for three consecutive Games since earning a team bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Coach Chu Gyo-seong of the women's national team took a risky move by fielding the Shin Yu-bin?Jeon Ji-hee pair in the first doubles match instead of the usual Shin Yu-bin?Choi Hyo-joo duo. The plan was to secure the first doubles match and seize the initiative, even at the cost of limiting Jeon Ji-hee?who leads in skill and experience?to only one singles match.

The match proceeded as planned. Shin Yu-bin and Jeon Ji-hee struggled early, losing the first set, but then caught up by winning one set each to tie the score 2-2. Gaining momentum, Shin Yu-bin and Jeon Ji-hee completely dominated their opponents in the decisive fifth set. Leading 9-3, Shin Yu-bin’s backhand and Jeon Ji-hee’s drives consecutively struck the opponent’s table, finishing the match 3-2 (9-11, 11-8, 6-11, 11-6, 11-3) and securing a valuable first game point for the national team.

In the second singles match, Choi Hyo-joo (ranked 64th) lost 0-3 (3-11, 3-11, 8-11) to Han Ying (ranked 22nd), who once reached 6th in the world singles rankings with defensive play, tying the game score at 1-1. However, in the third singles, Jeon Ji-hee (ranked 14th) crushed Solja (ranked 16th) 3-0 (11-6, 13-11, 11-3), putting Korea ahead 2-1 again.

In the fourth singles, Germany sent Han Ying out again. The youngest player, Shin Yu-bin, fought hard but could not secure the win. Shin lost the first set 6-11 but adapted to the opponent’s style and won the second set in deuce, leveling the match. However, she ultimately succumbed to Han Ying’s experience, losing the next two sets consecutively 1-3 (6-11, 12-10, 6-11, 9-11).

In the fourth set, trailing by four points, Shin Yu-bin launched a desperate chase with powerful 'fire-like' drives but bowed her head after failing to break through the opponent’s seasoned cuts.

In the final fifth singles match, Choi Hyo-joo lost 0-3 (8-11, 6-11, 9-11) to Shan Xiaona, confirming Korea’s elimination in the quarterfinals.