.jpg)
Ten years ago at the LIEBHERR World Championships in the Parisian suburb of Bercy, Joo Saehyuk stunned the crowds.
He reached the final of the Men’s Singles event, only to lose to Austria’s Werner Schlager for the one and only time in his career.
In 2003 in the Palais Omnisport de Paris, he entertained, not by his antics but by his style of play; the backspin returns from the very depths of the court, combined with lightning fast forehand top spin missiles, brought gasps of adulation from the packed stands.
Not Named
However, a decade later, there will be no repeat of his meeting with Werner Schlager, no thrilling the Parisian crowds.
He is not named in the Korean line-up for the LIEBHERR World Championships, which start on Monday 13th May and conclude on Monday 20th May 2013.
No London Olympian Present
In fact none of the trio, who clinched the silver medal in the Men’s Team event at the London 2012 Olympic Games, is named in the Korean line-up for Paris.
There is no place for Oh Sangeun nor Ryu Seungmin; it is a quite drastic decision by the Korean selectors.
World Status
Currently Joo Saehyuk stands at no.13 on the Men’s World Rankings; Oh Sangeun is at no.17 with Ryu Seungmin being at no.20.
Many countries would give a fortune for such riches.
Beijing Exception
Over the past decade and more, since the retirement of Kim Taeksoo, they have formed the Korean Men’s Team time and again, the one exception to raise the eyebrows, being at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, when Yoon Jaeyoung was preferred to Joo Saehyuk.
Just as now, that selection, however conducted, did surprise. Had Joo Saehyuk played, Korea would have been the second seeds in the Men’s Team event and not the third listed. They drew China in the semi-finals, had Joo Saehyuk been present, would Korea have departed Beijing with silver and not bronze?
International Career Over?
At 33 years of age is the international career of Joo Saehyuk really at an end? Oh Sangeun is somewhat older at 36 years with Ryu Seungmin being the junior member. He is 30 years old.
Is a podium finish at a World Championships beyond a member of the illustrious group?
Swedish Wins
Surely, all are still young enough to win a major title; Sweden’s Jan-Ove Waldner was 31 years old when he won in Manchester in 1997 and 38 years of age when he progressed to the semi-finals of the Men’s Singles event at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.
Meanwhile, Jörgen Persson was 42 years old when he finished in fourth place in the Men’s Singles event at the Beijing Olympic Games.
In Paris a semi-final berth is a minimum bronze medal.
An Obstacle
However, there is a major obstacle; it is called China.
Could Joo Saehyuk, Oh Sangeun or Ryu Seungmin stop China claiming a clean sweep of Men’s Singles medals?
The odds are longer than Joo Saehyuk reaching the final a decade ago.
Few Successes
Recent successes for the established Korean stars against the might of China has been better than most but comparatively rare; the most recent being in January 2012 at the GAC GROUP Hungarian Open when at the quarter-final stage, Joo Saehyuk beat Zhang Jike.
Memorably, Ryu Seungmin upset the odds in 2004 at the Athens Olympic Games by beating Wang Hao in the Men’s Singles final, whilst at the LIEBHERR World Championships in 2007 in Zagreb just one Chinese player suffered defeat against foreign opposition.
Fading Memory
Ma Long was beaten by a certain Joo Saehyuk.
Equally Oh Sangeun has enjoyed his moments of triumph, also Ma Long has been one of his victims; he beat the Chinese star in the group stage of the Men’s Singles event at the LIEBHERR Men’s World Cup in Moscow in 2009.
Alas for Korea, the wins are an increasing fading memory.
Semi-Final, the Final
At the London 2012 Olympic Games when China beat Korea in the Men’s Team final, there was no great sense of heartbreak in the Korean camp; more one of inevitability.
The final for the Koreans was the semi-final win against Hong Kong; that result guaranteed a medal and it guaranteed silver.
Young Team
A medal from the established trio in Paris, it’s a long shot and clearly those who make the decisions in Korea have decided odds are too great.
They have selected a male squad with the senior citizen being Cho Eonrae, the runner up in the Boys’ Singles event at the World Junior Championships in both 2003 and 2004, he is now 26 years old.
He is named alongside Kim Minseok, Seo Hyundeok and Jung Youngsik, all 21 years old with there being some doubt as to the fitness of Kim Minseok; recently he underwent an operation.
Lee Sangsu, 22 years old in addition to 23 year old Kim Kyungmin and 14 year old Huang Minha complete the youthful looking contingent.
Sweeping Changes
They are sweeping changes; there is no room for the likes of Lee Jungwoo, now 28 years old and at no.24 on the Men’s World Rankings, he is another significant omission
The onus falls on youth and when Joo Saehyuk progressed the final a decade ago, he was only 23 years old, very much the age of the team for 2013; his exploits live long in the memory.
Memories
He started his quest by dousing French hopes, he beat Cédrik Cabestany, now a Class 9 Para Table Tennis player following an illness which affected his playing arm.
Success over the local man in the opening round; next in line was Russia’s Alexey Smirnov followed by what was to be his closest call en route to the final. He saved one match point in his third round duel against Hong Kong’s Li Ching in the sixth game before eventually securing success.
Next to suffer was Chinese Taipei’s Chuang Chih-Yuan followed by a shock quarter-final win over China’s Ma Lin and a semi-final success in opposition to Kalinikos Kreanga of Greece.
Can Any Korean Produce the Extraordinary?
A memorable journey; does one such excursion await his successor?
Can one of member of the current generation produce the extraordinary, can anyone match Joo Saehyuk?
I doubt it but what about 2015 or 2017 or the Olympic Games in 2016? Surely the selections suggest Korea has those tournaments more in mind and one day will what has never happened happen.
The Nearest
A World Men’s Singles champion from Korea not in 2013 but two, four or six years hence?
No Korean has achieved the goal, the nearest is Joo Saehyuk; silver medallist LIEBHERR World Championships 2003.
......http://ittf.com/.....
However, a decade later, there will be no repeat of his meeting with Werner Schlager, no thrilling the Parisian crowds.
He is not named in the Korean line-up for the LIEBHERR World Championships, which start on Monday 13th May and conclude on Monday 20th May 2013.
No London Olympian Present
In fact none of the trio, who clinched the silver medal in the Men’s Team event at the London 2012 Olympic Games, is named in the Korean line-up for Paris.
There is no place for Oh Sangeun nor Ryu Seungmin; it is a quite drastic decision by the Korean selectors.
World Status
Currently Joo Saehyuk stands at no.13 on the Men’s World Rankings; Oh Sangeun is at no.17 with Ryu Seungmin being at no.20.
Many countries would give a fortune for such riches.
Beijing Exception
Over the past decade and more, since the retirement of Kim Taeksoo, they have formed the Korean Men’s Team time and again, the one exception to raise the eyebrows, being at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, when Yoon Jaeyoung was preferred to Joo Saehyuk.
Just as now, that selection, however conducted, did surprise. Had Joo Saehyuk played, Korea would have been the second seeds in the Men’s Team event and not the third listed. They drew China in the semi-finals, had Joo Saehyuk been present, would Korea have departed Beijing with silver and not bronze?
International Career Over?
At 33 years of age is the international career of Joo Saehyuk really at an end? Oh Sangeun is somewhat older at 36 years with Ryu Seungmin being the junior member. He is 30 years old.
Is a podium finish at a World Championships beyond a member of the illustrious group?
Swedish Wins
Surely, all are still young enough to win a major title; Sweden’s Jan-Ove Waldner was 31 years old when he won in Manchester in 1997 and 38 years of age when he progressed to the semi-finals of the Men’s Singles event at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.
Meanwhile, Jörgen Persson was 42 years old when he finished in fourth place in the Men’s Singles event at the Beijing Olympic Games.
In Paris a semi-final berth is a minimum bronze medal.
An Obstacle
However, there is a major obstacle; it is called China.
Could Joo Saehyuk, Oh Sangeun or Ryu Seungmin stop China claiming a clean sweep of Men’s Singles medals?
The odds are longer than Joo Saehyuk reaching the final a decade ago.
Few Successes
Recent successes for the established Korean stars against the might of China has been better than most but comparatively rare; the most recent being in January 2012 at the GAC GROUP Hungarian Open when at the quarter-final stage, Joo Saehyuk beat Zhang Jike.
Memorably, Ryu Seungmin upset the odds in 2004 at the Athens Olympic Games by beating Wang Hao in the Men’s Singles final, whilst at the LIEBHERR World Championships in 2007 in Zagreb just one Chinese player suffered defeat against foreign opposition.
Fading Memory
Ma Long was beaten by a certain Joo Saehyuk.
Equally Oh Sangeun has enjoyed his moments of triumph, also Ma Long has been one of his victims; he beat the Chinese star in the group stage of the Men’s Singles event at the LIEBHERR Men’s World Cup in Moscow in 2009.
Alas for Korea, the wins are an increasing fading memory.
Semi-Final, the Final
At the London 2012 Olympic Games when China beat Korea in the Men’s Team final, there was no great sense of heartbreak in the Korean camp; more one of inevitability.
The final for the Koreans was the semi-final win against Hong Kong; that result guaranteed a medal and it guaranteed silver.
Young Team
A medal from the established trio in Paris, it’s a long shot and clearly those who make the decisions in Korea have decided odds are too great.
They have selected a male squad with the senior citizen being Cho Eonrae, the runner up in the Boys’ Singles event at the World Junior Championships in both 2003 and 2004, he is now 26 years old.
He is named alongside Kim Minseok, Seo Hyundeok and Jung Youngsik, all 21 years old with there being some doubt as to the fitness of Kim Minseok; recently he underwent an operation.
Lee Sangsu, 22 years old in addition to 23 year old Kim Kyungmin and 14 year old Huang Minha complete the youthful looking contingent.
Sweeping Changes
They are sweeping changes; there is no room for the likes of Lee Jungwoo, now 28 years old and at no.24 on the Men’s World Rankings, he is another significant omission
The onus falls on youth and when Joo Saehyuk progressed the final a decade ago, he was only 23 years old, very much the age of the team for 2013; his exploits live long in the memory.
Memories
He started his quest by dousing French hopes, he beat Cédrik Cabestany, now a Class 9 Para Table Tennis player following an illness which affected his playing arm.
Success over the local man in the opening round; next in line was Russia’s Alexey Smirnov followed by what was to be his closest call en route to the final. He saved one match point in his third round duel against Hong Kong’s Li Ching in the sixth game before eventually securing success.
Next to suffer was Chinese Taipei’s Chuang Chih-Yuan followed by a shock quarter-final win over China’s Ma Lin and a semi-final success in opposition to Kalinikos Kreanga of Greece.
Can Any Korean Produce the Extraordinary?
A memorable journey; does one such excursion await his successor?
Can one of member of the current generation produce the extraordinary, can anyone match Joo Saehyuk?
I doubt it but what about 2015 or 2017 or the Olympic Games in 2016? Surely the selections suggest Korea has those tournaments more in mind and one day will what has never happened happen.
The Nearest
A World Men’s Singles champion from Korea not in 2013 but two, four or six years hence?
No Korean has achieved the goal, the nearest is Joo Saehyuk; silver medallist LIEBHERR World Championships 2003.
......http://ittf.com/.....
No comments:
Post a Comment