Korea add silver and bronze medals in Asian Games table tennis

Korean table tennis players Jang Woo-jin and Lim Jong-hoon lost 4-0 to China in the men’s doubles final at the Hangzhou Asian Games on Sunday, claiming a silver medal and missing a chance to win Korea’s first gold in Asiad table tennis this year

Korean table tennis players Jang Woo-jin and Lim Jong-hoon compete in the men's doubles final at the Hangzhou Asian Games against China's Fan Zhendong and Wang Chuqin at Gongshu Canal Sports Park Gymnasium in Hangzhou, China on Sunday. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

Korean table tennis players Jang Woo-jin and Lim Jong-hoon lost 4-0 to Fan Zhendong and Wang Chuqin of China in the men’s doubles final at the Hangzhou Asian Games on Sunday, claiming a silver medal and missing a chance to win Korea’s first gold in Asiad table tennis this year.

The match at Gongshu Canal Sports Park Gymnasium in Hangzhou, China was one-sided from the start, with Jang and Lim losing the first three games 11-6, 11-8 and 11-7.

Korea had to win the fourth game to stay alive, but lost it 11-3 for a final score of 4-0.

Korea has struggled against China in this year’s Asiad table tennis, with the men’s table tennis team losing 3-0 to China in the final on Tuesday last week and Shin Yu-bin losing 4-0 to Sun Yingsha in the women’s singles semifinal earlier on Sunday.

Shin still claimed a bronze, as both losers in the two semifinals win an automatic bronze.

With Sunday’s victory in the men’s doubles final, 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.

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

Korea will secure more medals before the Asiad table tennis schedule wraps on Monday, as Shin Yu-bin and Jeon Ji-hee are set to compete in the women’s doubles semifinals on Monday, in addition to Jang Woo-jin, who will face Fan Zhendong in the men’s singles semifinal on the same day.

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