Jeon Ji-hee and Shin Yu-bin, South Korean table tennis players, have finally taken the gold medal at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games on Oct. 2, 2023. They have also ranked as No. 1 on the overall women’s doubles team in the World Table Tennis Championships. The expectations of the South Korean public for the table tennis matches in the Hangzhou Asian Games were high, and there were hopes for a gold medal bya South Korean team. While South Korea has been gaining good progress on the field of table tennis, the majority of the medals were often taken by China – a country that produces players that are exceptionally skilled in table tennis.
It was surprising, therefore, when the South Korean women’s doubles team secured a spot in the finals – and a silver medal – against the North Korean women’s doubles team. The Chinese women’s doubles team had not even made it to the semifinals this time. It was a rare occasion for both women’s doubles teams during the finals, as it was not every day that South Korean players competed against North Korean players.
Hopes were high, wishes were made, and the people were watching when the table tennis women’s doubles final started. While the competition was fierce and there were some times of uncertainty during the game, South Korea finally got the gold medal. The South Korean women’s doubles team won 11-6, 11-4, 10-12, 12-10, 11-3, beating North Korea by four to one. It was a time of ecstasy for South Korea, and on the day of the match, the internet was flooded with encouraging and heartfelt messages to the South Korean table tennis players.
Jeon, a Chinese-born South Korean table tennis player born in 1992, is older than Shin by 12 years. Fluent in both Chinese and Korean, Jeon was scouted by a South Korean coach in 2008 and received a South Korean citizenship in 2011 (SBS News). She has been noted for her remarkable table tennis skills for a long time and has formed an unbeatable duo with Shin.
Shin was born in 2004 and became the youngest member of the national table tennis team to ever join. She, along with Jeon, was praised for her phenomenal table tennis skills from a young age and has appeared in multiple TV programs. The most famous programs being aired from the popular South Korean broadcasting stations SBS and MBC, Shin made herself known to the public since she was 5 years old. Her nickname – given to her by the South Korean public – is ppiyagi, which means ‘little chick.’ Her nickname comes from her adorable disposition she had often shown on TV.
The South Korean women’s doubles table tennis team has shown an amazing effort during the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games. Many fans and the public are now looking forward to supporting and rooting for Jeon and Shin in the 2024 Summer Olympics held in Paris, France.
