2017 Summer Universiade

Korea adds to medal tally, gold for Jang Woojin and Jeon Jihee

28 Aug 2017

Medallists earlier in the proceedings, bronze in the Men’s Team event for Jang Woojin, gold in the counterpart Women’s Team competition for Jeon Jihee; on Sunday 27th August, the Korea Republic duo joined forces to win the Mixed Doubles title at the 2017 Universiade in Taipei City.

At the final hurdle they beat the Japanese combination of Kazuhiro Yoshimura and Minami Ando (11-1, 9-11, 11-5, 7-11, 5-11, 8-11, 11-3); thus preventing what would have been a quite unique family double of global titles. Earlier this year at the Liebherr 2017 World Championships in Düsseldorf, Kazuhiro’s elder brother Maharu had partnered colleague, Kasumi Ishikawa to the top step of the Mixed Doubles podium.

Jang Woojin partnered Jeon Jihee to gold in the Mixed Doubles event (Photo: Rémy Gros)

by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor (Interviews by Hung Yen Lin)

Success for Jeon Jihee, a player in a rich vein of form and with a liking for Japan; in the final of the Women’s Team event, she had proved the mainstay of the three-two success, beating both Rika Suzuki (15-13, 11-4, 14-12) and Minami Ando (15-17, 11-1, 12-10, 11-4).

“I’m very happy and also very surprised to claim two titles as each match has been so difficult. Last night our teamwork was strong; today I relied a lot on my team mate. He played really well and he encouraged me a lot. We played many matches today but since they’re all doubles matches, I’m not that tired. Tomorrow is a new start; as long as I do my best, whatever the result, it is fine.” Jeon Jihee

A full distance seven games win in the final; earlier in the day life had been equally testing for Jang Woojin and Jeon Jihee. At the quarter-final stage they had required six games to end the hopes of DPR Korea’s Choe Il and Choe Hyon Hwa (11-7, 11-5, 6-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-8), before being stretched to the very limit in the penultimate round when facing Chinese Taipei’s Liao Cheng-Ting and Chen Szu-Yu (8-11, 11-5, 12-10, 9-11, 11-5, 7-11, 11-9).

“Today I was quite relaxed partnering Jeon Jihee. Each match was rather hard but we communicated with each other promptly. We did not give up when facing difficulties; we worked very positively, so everything turned out well. It is my first time to play in these kind Games apart from the World Championships. Representing your country really gives a sense of responsibility. I think the atmosphere here is a very good education for me.” Jang Woojin.

Now the focus for the concluding two days of action is on the Men’s Singles and Women’s Singles events; play ends on Tuesday 29th August.

“Tomorrow I won’t think too much about winning or losing I’ll just play at my best like today and hopefully I can win a medal.” Jang Woojin

In the opposite half of the draw, in the latter stages Kazuhiro Yoshimura and Minami Ando accounted for the French partnership of Alexandre Robinot and Laura Gasnier in the round of the last eight (11-8, 8-11, 11-5, 11-3, 11-6), prior to overcoming DPR Korea’s Pak Sin Hyok and Kim Nam Hae (11-5, 11-8, 9-11, 11-7, 11-9).

Gold for Jan Woojin and Jeon Jihee, silver for Kazuhiro Yoshimura and Minami Ando, bronze for Liao Cheng-Ting and Chen Szu-Yu alongside Pak Sin Hyok and Kim Nam Hae; in all events two bronze medals are awarded.

2017 Summer Universiade: Table Tennis Events – Tuesday 22nd to Tuesday 29th August

2017 Summer Universiade Jang Woojin Jeon Jihee Kazuhiro Yoshimura Minami Ando

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