Korea denied table tennis final after double loss to China

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Korea denied table tennis final after double loss to China

Published: 29 Sep. 2023, 23:21

Korea's Jang Woo-jin and Jeon Ji-hee lose to China's Lin Gaoyuan and Wang Yidi, settling for bronze in the mixed doubles table tennis contest at the 19th Asian Games on Friday. [XINHUA]

Korea added two bronze medals in table tennis after losing both semifinal matches in the mixed doubles tournament to China on Friday at the Hangzhou Asian Games.

The Korean team of Jang Woo-jin and Jeon Ji-hee lost 4-1 to China’s Lin Gaoyuan and Wang Yidi in the final-qualifying round.

Their teammates, Korea’s Lim Jong-hoon and Shin Yu-bin, lost 4-0 to China’s Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha in the other semifinal contest.

In table tennis, the losing team in each semifinal round is automatically awarded bronze. China, which has long-dominated table tennis internationally, is now guaranteed both gold and silver in the mixed doubles contest.

Korea had won four medals in table tennis — one silver and three bronze — by Friday, putting it on track to beat its four-medal finish in the sport at the 2018 Games in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The Korean men’s table tennis team took silver in the men’s team contest and the Korean women’s team took bronze.

The table tennis schedule at this year’s Asiad is set to wrap up on Monday with opportunities to medal in singles and doubles events.

BY MARY YANG [mary.yang@joongang.co.kr]