Shin Yubin (19-Korea Air) performed a delightful heart ceremony after her dramatic upset to reach the round of 16 at the World Championships.
The women’s singles round of 32 at the 2023 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Championships continued today (Thursday) at the Durban International Convention Center (DICC) in Durban, South Africa.
World No. 26 Xin Yubin won a full-game battle against 18th-ranked Chinese player Yuan Jianan (37-FR), 4-3 (9-11, 11-9, 11-9, 8-11, 9-11, 11-5, 12-10).
Shin came from behind to win the final seven games. She was 2-6 down midway through the match and looked to be in trouble. She pulled within one point at 6-7, but her opponent rallied to make it 8-10.
However, Shin fought his way back to 10-10 deuce and won the next two points to close out the match. After the match, he pumped his fists in the air and celebrated. As the crowd erupted in applause and cheers, he responded by drawing a heart with his arms above his head.
In an interview in the mixed zone, Shin said, “It was a very difficult match and I’m glad I got through it. I don’t usually get goosebumps while playing, but when it was 10-10 (in the final game), I got goosebumps all over. It was a fun and happy match, and I think I’ll remember it a lot because I ended up winning.”
In the round of 16, Xin will face world No. 1 Sun Yingxia (23-China). “I think I’ll have to do everything I can, no matter who I’m playing. Sun Yingxia doesn’t lose often. I think she’s a tough player, so I’ll have to prepare thoroughly and make a good match,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Shin failed to reach the medal round in the mixed doubles quarterfinals as he and Lim Jong-hoon (26-Korea Exchange) lost 0-3 (8-11, 5-11, 6-11) to world No. 2 Tomokazu Harimoto and Hina Hayata of Japan.스포츠토토
In the men’s singles round of 32, World No. 11 Lim Jong-hoon defeated World No. 86 Lubomir Pice (Slovakia) 4-2 (7-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-7, 11-5) to reach the round of 16. Lim will play world No. 3 Ma Rong (China) in the quarterfinals. World No. 14 Jang Woo-jin (28-Mirae Asset Securities) also reached the round of 16 in the men’s singles.
In the women’s singles, Seo Hyo-won (36-Korea Horse Society) reached the round of 16, while Jeon Jeon-hee (31-Mirae Asset Securities) lost 0-4 (9-11, 6-11, 6-11, 10-12) to Miu Hirano (19th) of Japan in the round of 32.
In the men’s doubles, Lee Sang-soo (33) and Cho Dae-sung (21-Samsung Life Insurance) reached the quarterfinals. However, Lee was eliminated in the round of 32 in the men’s singles.