On the 1st, at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium in Japan, the men's team semifinal doubles match (sports classification TT4-5) of the Tokyo Paralympics table tennis was held between the South Korean pair Kim Young-geon and Kim Jeong-gil and the French pair Florian Merrien and Nicolas Savant-Aira. Kim Young-geon (left) is smiling and talking with Kim Jeong-gil. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Junyi Park] The South Korean para table tennis team secured at least three silver medals as they smoothly advanced to the semifinals of the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics team event.
Baek Youngbok (44, Jangsu-gun Disabled Sports Association), Kim Younggeon (37), and Kim Jeonggil (35, both from Gwangju City Hall) defeated France's Florian Merrien, Nicolas Savant-Aira, and Maxime Thomas 2-0 in the men's team semifinals (sports class TT4-5) held on the 1st at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan, advancing to the finals.
With this, Korean table tennis is guaranteed at least a silver medal in the TT4-5 class team event. Kim Younggeon will earn two medals in this tournament, adding to his individual singles (TT4) silver medal.
In the first doubles match, the pair Kim Younggeon-Kim Jeonggil defeated Merrien-Savant-Aira 3-1, followed by Kim Younggeon defeating Thomas 3-0 in 18 minutes in the second singles match to secure a ticket to the finals.
The team of Baek Youngbok, Kim Younggeon, and Kim Jeonggil will compete against China for the gold medal in the final at the same venue at 10 a.m. on the 2nd.
Meanwhile, in the women's table tennis TT1-3 class team event, Seo Suyeon (35, Gwangju City Hall), Lee Migyu (33, Ulsan City Disabled Sports Association), and Yoon Jiyu (21, Seongnam City Hall) face China in their final hurdle. Seo Suyeon, Lee Migyu, and Yoon Jiyu advanced to the finals by defeating Croatia's Helena Dretar Kari? and Anđela Mu?ini? 2-0 in the semifinals, securing a silver medal.
Seo Suyeon won a silver medal in the individual singles, while Lee Migyu and Yoon Jiyu each earned bronze medals, meaning all three athletes have won two medals each in this tournament.
In the men's TT1-2 class, Cha Suyong (41, Daegu Metropolitan City), Park Jincheol (39, Gwangju City Hall), and Kim Hyunwook (26, Ulsan City Disabled Sports Association) defeated Poland's Rafał Czuper and Tomasz Jakimczuk 2-1.
In the first doubles match, Park Jincheol and Cha Suyong won a close 3-2 match in five sets. Although Park Jincheol lost 2-3 to Czuper in the second singles match, Cha Suyong defeated Jakimczuk 3-1 in the third singles match to secure a place in the finals.
The team of Cha Suyong, Park Jincheol, and Kim Hyunwook will compete against France for the gold medal at 5 p.m. on the 3rd.
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