Korea exits table tennis men's singles after big 4-0 loss to Brazil

Jang Woo-jin lost to Hugo Calderano 4-0 in their men’s table tennis singles quarterfinal match Thursday, ending the country’s chance to win a medal in the event at the Paris Olympics.

Korea's Jang Woo-jin, background, plays against Brazil's Hugo Calderano during a men's singles quarterfinal table tennis match at the 2024 Paris Olympics Thursday in Paris. [AP/YONHAP]

Korea’s Jang Woo-jin lost to Brazil’s Hugo Calderano 4-0 in their men’s table tennis singles quarterfinal match Thursday, ending the country’s chance to win a medal in the event at the Paris Olympics.

Calderano, world No. 4, dominated from the start. He soared to a huge 11-4 victory in the first game, Jang failing to match his opponent’s speed.

Jang grabbed a one-point lead in the second game but Calderano denied him the win, ending the game with the board at 11-7. Calderano took just five minutes to win the third game 11-5 to sit one win away from a spot in the semifinals.

Korea's Jang Woo-jin in action during his quarterfinal match against Hugo Calderano of Brazil at the Paris Olympics on Thursday. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

The Brazilian beat Jang 11-6 in the fourth game, allowing him zero games en route to a guaranteed medal round.

Jang, 28, still has a chance to medal, though, as the Korean men’s team are set to take on Croatia in the men’s team table tennis round of 16 on Aug. 6 at the South Paris Arena in Paris.

Korea’s Shin Yu-bin and Lim Jong-hoon earlier became the first Korean table tennis players to medal at the Olympics since 2012, winning a bronze medal in the mixed doubles contest.

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