Sports
10:43, 05-May-2018
Unified Korean women's team earn bronze in World Team Table Tennis Championships
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The unified Korean women's table tennis team were defeated by Japan in the semi-final at the world championships in Sweden on Friday.
The International Table Tennis Federation announced on Thursday that rather than face one another in the quarterfinals, teams from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Republic of Korea (ROK) decided to form one unified Korean team to face team Japan on Friday’s semi-final.
The unified Korean team was comprised of Jeon Jihee, Kim Song I and Yang Haeun. Kim Song I had won an Olympic bronze medal for the DPRK at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Jeon Ji-hee of the Unified Korea team competes during the match against Japan. /VCG Photo
Jeon Ji-hee of the Unified Korea team competes during the match against Japan. /VCG Photo
The first match saw the ROK’s Jeon Ji-hee face off with Japan's Mima Ito, and the Japanese took the opening win 11-2, 11-8, 11-9.
Kasumi Ishikawa of Japan celebrates after winning over Unified Korea team's Kim Song I during their women's semi-final table tennis match Korea vs Japan. /VCG Photo
Kasumi Ishikawa of Japan celebrates after winning over Unified Korea team's Kim Song I during their women's semi-final table tennis match Korea vs Japan. /VCG Photo
The 2016 Rio Olympics bronze medalist Kim Song I of DPRK played Kasumi Ishikawa in the second match, Kim lost 11-4, 6-11, 11-8, 11-13, 16-14.
Japan’s Miu Hirano commends the win in the semi-final against Unified Korea. /VCG Photo
Japan’s Miu Hirano commends the win in the semi-final against Unified Korea. /VCG Photo
In the third match, Japan's Miu Hirano dispensed with South Korea's Yang Hae-un 11-4, 11-5, 9-11, 11-6.
Japan beat the unified Korean team 3-0, and will meet China in the finals. The united Korean team won the bronze medal as the tournament has two bronze medalists and no third-place game.