Korea adds three more bronze medals in table tennis on Wednesday

Team Korea added three more bronze medals in table tennis at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games in Paris on Wednesday to bring their total medal count in the sport to eight.

Moon Sung-hye, left, competes in the women's singles semifinals against Zhang Bian of China at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games in Paris on Wednesday. [NEWS1]

Team Korea added three more bronze medals in table tennis at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games in Paris on Wednesday to bring their total medal count in the sport to eight.

Moon Sung-hye lost her women’s singles semifinal 3-1 to Zhang Bian of China, while Jung Young-a also lost the other women’s semifinal with the same score to Pan Jiamin of China to each take bronze.

Cha Soo-yong also lost his men’s semifinal to Rafal Czuper of Poland 3-1 to claim bronze.

In Paralympic table tennis, the losers of the semifinals take an automatic bronze instead of playing a third-place match.

Cha’s bronze marks Korea’s eighth medal in table tennis, where the country has secured two silver and six bronze as of press time Thursday.

Table tennis has so far been the sport at which Korea has won the most medals at this year’s tournament, with shooting coming in at No. 2 with six.

Shooting and boccia have been the only two sports where Korea has won gold. Three out of Korea's four golds come from shooting.

Over in boccia, where Korea has already won four medals — one gold, two silver and one bronze — Jeong Ho-won and Kang Sun-hee beat Ferrando Stefania and Romero Rodrigo of Argentina 4-2 in the mixed pairs BC3 semifinals on Wednesday, reaching the final and guranteeing Korea at least a silver.

Jeong Ho-won, front left, and Kang Sun-hee celebrate after winning the mixed pairs BC3 semifinals against Argentina on Wednesday at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games in Paris. [YONHAP]

The final against Hong Kong was due to take place later on Thursday as of press time.

Boccia is similar to the winter Olympic sport of curling in which players throw six balls at a white target ball called the jack, and the team, pair or individual that finishes with the ball closest to the jack score at each end.

Korea is a boccia powerhouse, and has won gold at the last nine Paralympics, starting with the 1988 Seoul Games.

There are a total of seven events depending on physical impairment and number of players. Six Koreans are vying for a medal this year, two each in the BC1, BC2 and BC3 sport classes.

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