Dang Aiming for Gold, With or Without Chinas Support
By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
After winning several table tennis championships and qualifying for the Olympics, South Korea's Dang Ye-seo has every reason to go to the Beijing Summer Games.
But when exaggerated news broke that media in China ― the country she was from before gaining Korean citizenship ― criticized Dang for representing Korea in the Olympics, the "table tennis-holic'' found herself in a stressful situation.
``It's not true that the Chinese press `bashed' her for being qualified as a South Korean,'' Kang Hee-chan, coach of the Korean Air table tennis team, said to the Korea Times.
``The situation just fits perfectly into that picture, but it's a misunderstanding by some reporters.''
The 26-year-old Dang came to Korea in 2001 as a practice partner for the team and later decided to naturalize as a South Korean. Having high hopes toward the Olympics, she achieved her lifelong dream by earning a ticket to Beijing at the Olympic qualifying tournament.
``Dang had an interview with the press and said that she dreamed of going to the Olympics,'' Kang said. ``She didn't mention that she naturalized because she only wanted to attend the Games, but news spread and eventually got into the Chinese press.''
The Chinese press published the interview and before anyone knew, news that the Chinese criticized Dang for her actions was on the Internet. Web sites said the Chinese press claimed she wasn't good enough to join the Chinese Olympic team, so she changed her citizenship and joined South Korea's squad.
``She said that she wanted to do her best and try to win the gold medal,'' Kang said. ``The news was misinterpreted by a minority.''
Dang has proven that she's good enough to compete in the Olympics, regardless of what country she represents. She earned a berth in the Beijing Games by sweeping all 10 qualifying matches in addition to winning South Korea's National Championships this January and also conquered first place at the singles qualifiers for the World Championships.
However, the recent news evidently disturbed Dang, and it showed at her match at the World Championships held in Guangzhou, China. While the South Korean men were among the last eight teams at the tournament, the women, including Dang, failed to make it to the semifinals.
``All she wants is to do a good job at the Olympics. That is all she wants to think about right now,'' Kang said, also mentioning that Dang refused any interviews from the media, fearing it would effect her future training.