Korean women on early collision course vs. mighty China at table tennis worlds
Shin Yu-bin of Korea serves to Adriana Diaz of Puerto Rico during their teams' Group 5 match at the International Table Tennis Federation World Team Table Tennis Championships at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center in the southeastern city of Busan, Feb. 18. Yonhap
The host Korea will be on an early collision course with the world No. 1 China in the knockout stage of the women's event at the ongoing world table tennis championships.
Both Korea and China have qualified directly for the round of 16 in the women's competition at the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Team Table Tennis Championships in Busan. The draw that took place Tuesday night in the southeastern city put the two Asian teams on the same side of the knockout bracket. They will meet in the quarterfinals on Thursday if they both win their first knockout matches Wednesday evening.
There were 40 nations divided into eight groups of five in the opening phase. The eight group winners advanced to the round of 16, while the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds will fight for remaining tickets to the last 16 in playoffs.
In the round of 16, Korea will play the winner of a clash between Brazil and Hungary. China will meet either Austria or Thailand in the round of 16.
Jeon Ji-hee of Korea celebrates her point against Adriana Diaz of Puerto Rico during their teams' Group 5 match at the International Table Tennis Federation World Team Table Tennis Championships at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center in the southeastern city of Busan, Feb. 18. Yonhap
In even-numbered years, the ITTF holds the team world championships. Korea has not won a women's team medal since 2012. China, on the other hand, has been the women's champion at 13 out of the past 14 events, with the 2010 tournament being the lone exception.
The five players for China are ranked first through fourth and then sixth in the world rankings: Sun Yingsha, Wang Yidi, Chen Meng, Wang Manyu and Chen Xingtong.
Korea is led by world No. 8 Shin Yu-bin and No. 21 Jeon Ji-hee. And there is a considerable drop-off in talent beyond those two, with Lee Zion (No. 44), Lee Eun-hye (No. 65) and Yoon Hyo-bin (No. 159).
In the team tournament, each match is made up of up to five singles matches in a best-of-five format. Teams are each carrying five players but only three players can play in each match. If a match goes the distance, two players will each play twice.
Korea went undefeated in the group stage, knocking off Italy, Malaysia, Puerto Rico and Cuba in succession while losing just one singles match.
Lee Sang-su of Korea hits a shot to Sharath Kamal Achanta of India during their teams' Group 3 match at the International Table Tennis Federation World Team Table Tennis Championships at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center in the southeastern city of Busan, Feb. 19. Yonhap
On the men's side, Korea will meet China in the semifinals should both teams get that deep.
Korea and China both won their groups to book places in the round of 16. Korea will meet either Kazakhstan or India in its first knockout match, with Slovenia as the likely quarterfinals opponent.
China will face the winner of the playoff match between England and Romania in the round of 16. Then Japan could be next for China in the quarters.
Lim Jong-hoon of Korea, right, hits a shot to Sathiyan Gnanasekaran of India during their teams' Group 3 match at the International Table Tennis Federation World Team Table Tennis Championships at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center in the southeastern city of Busan, Feb. 19. Yonhap
The Chinese men's team boasts the world's top five singles players: Fan Zhendong, Wang Chuqin, Ma Long, Liang Jingkun and Lin Gaoyuan.
The Korean side is made up of Jang Woo-jin (No. 14), Lim Jong-hoon (No. 18), Lee Sang-su (No. 27), An Jae-hyun (No. 34) and Park Gyu-hyeon (No. 178). (Yonhap)