Korean men's table tennis team take silver in eighth consecutive Asiad loss to China

Korea's Lim Jong-hoon competes in the men’s table tennis team final against China at the Hangzhou Asian Games held at Gongshu Canal Sports Park Gymnasium in Hangzhou, China on Tuesday. [YONHAP]

The Korean men’s table tennis team lost 3-0 to China in the final at the Hangzhou Asian Games on Tuesday, settling for a silver medal and securing their eighth consecutive silver in Asiad table tennis.

Korea’s Lim Jong-hoon, An Jae-hyun and Park Gang-hyeon went up against Wang Chuqin, Fan Zhendong and Ma Long at Gongshu Canal Sports Park Gymnasium in Hangzhou, China.

Korea was off to a shaky start, with Lim losing the match 3-1 to Wang. An then took the baton and faced Fan, but he did not win a single game and lost the match 3-0.

Park had to win his match against Ma to keep Korea alive, but lost three straight games 11-3, 12-10 and 11-6, losing the match 3-0.

With the win, China extended their dominance in Asiad table tennis. China has been by far the best nation in Asiad table tennis, having secured over 120 medals.

The last time the Korean men’s table tennis team won gold in the Asiad was in 1990. Since then, they have suffered eight consecutive losses to China in the finals.

Korea is still one of the strongest countries in Asian Games table tennis with nearly 90 medals, slightly ahead of Japan with 80 medals.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]