LSS: I think this will be my last Olympics...
https://www.chosun.com/sports/sports_general/2021/03/22/MI74676DLNHFPPYLLAKYSDBN7E/
“I will fight with ambition… China would rather be burdened.”
[Tokyo Countdown] Lee Sang-soo, Jung Young-sik and Jang Woo-jin are aiming for gold in table tennis men’s group
Reporter Kim Sang-yoon
Enter 2021.03.22 03:00 | Revision 2021.03.22 03:00
Five gold medals are at stake in the table tennis event of the Tokyo Olympics. The strategic sport of the Korean national team is a men's team competition with three members Lee Sang-soo, Jung Young-sik, and Jang Woo-jin. Not only the host country, Japan, but also China, which is regarded as the “absolute first-class”. The men's national team manager Oh Sang-eun said, "The first goal is to enter the medal zone, and I want to play against China once in the final."
The players of the national team, who made their ninth consecutive Olympic advancement at the beginning of last year, recently confirmed their participation in the Tokyo Olympics in different ways. Jang Woo-jin, the highest among domestic players with the world ranking of 12th, was automatically selected, and Lee Sang-soo took the first place in the selection. Jeong Young-sik got on the last train with the recommendation of the Competition Improvement Committee.
◇Let's go over the Chinese castle
The national team players who are about to enter the Jincheon Athlete's Village said, "I believe in each other" in a recent phone call.
“I believe in Sangsoo and Youngsik. I'll win the first edition. Thanks to the hyungs, I am confident too.” (Jang Woo-jin)
“Is Woojin like that? haha. We are the opposite. If we do well, then Woojin will unlock his potential and end it.” (Lee Sangsoo)
Starting from the Tokyo Olympics, the table tennis team competition has changed. Originally, the third out of matches 1-5 was doubles, but now doubles are played first, followed by singles in 2-5 matches. As the first match, the importance of doubles has grown, and fierce number fights are expected over the order in which they will go to singles. Lee Sang-soo and Jung Young-sik Jo recently won the World Table Tennis (WTT) Star Contender in Doha, Qatar, and rose to the top of the men's doubles world rankings. The ‘best scenario’ that the national team thinks is that they catch the first game and Jang Woo-jin beats the opponent's ace in the second game's singles.
The national team's goal is to win a gold medal over China. Jeong Young-sik said, “I want to stick with China properly. Director Yoo Nam-gyu and Yoo Seung-min, the chairman of the Korea Table Tennis Association, said, "I want to succeed." We just have to fight with ambition.”
◇3 people, 3 colors, one heart
The three players are similar in that they are right-handed, shakehand grip, and offensive type. The play style is noticeably different. Lee Sang-soo, the eldest of the national team, is offensive. He says “attack 80, defense 20,” so he strikes out and destroys his opponent. Jeong Young-sik, who has been breathing with him for a long time, stands out with his calmness. He is less glamorous than other players, but he is persistent and stable.
Korean table tennis suffered the pain of'No Medal in 28 Years' at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Lee Sang-soo and Jung Young-sik went on to join veteran Ju Se-hyuk in the team match at the time, but knelt to China in the semi-finals and lost to Germany in the bronze medal match. Lee Sang-soo said, "The Rio Olympics was a turning point that helped improve my table tennis skills," and said, "I still solve every game based on my experience at that time." Jeong Young-sik said, “After experiencing frustration at the first Olympics, I set the three elements of strategy, psychology, and physical strength, and made an effort constantly. He feels for himself that he is better than when he was in Rio.”
Woojin Jang, the youngest of the three, emerged as the team's next-generation ace with a sense of moment-to-moment with bold attack power. As such, it was also the subject of intensive analysis of the opponent in international competitions. He said, “I have felt the burden, but now I have regained my confidence.”
◇ Overcoming the Corona and aiming for the Olympics
Like other sports, table tennis had a lot of ups and downs due to corona. Ahead of the Olympics, the Busan World Championship, which was an opportunity to glimpse other countries' power in advance, was canceled. Chairman of the Table Tennis Association Yoo Seung-min also promoted joint training with China, but eventually failed. The players said, “As we were excited about the opening of the world championship in Korea, we are regretful too.”
Kim Taek-soo, who was preparing for the Olympics as the men's national team coach, was called by Chairman Yoo at the end of last year, and moved to the executive department of the association. Coach Oh said, “Our players are not backed by offensive power, but their lack of ability to withstand the defensive situation is their weakness.” “We will focus on training to switch from defense to offensive before the Olympics.”
Each athlete was asked about his determination to face the Olympics that had been delayed for one year due to the coronavirus.
“I think it will be my last Olympics. I really want to bring a medal to my wife, who has had a hard time watching babies since last year.” (Lee Sang-soo)
“As I got a difficult opportunity as a recommended player, I have to take more responsibility. Since the preparation period was long, we will prepare so that we do not regret it.” (Jeoung Young-sik)
“After the team members are decided, I have more responsibility and I feel like a team. It's my first Olympics, but I'll break my fears.” (Jang Woo-jin)
