Team China win two titles at 2018 ITTF Korea Open

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The Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Platinum, Shinhan Korea Open came to an end on Sunday. Zhu Yuling and Chen Meng/Ding Ning respectively won titles for the women’s singles and doubles for Team China.

Before the two finals on Sunday, China had already bagged gold and silver in the women’s singles and doubles when Zhu Yuling and Chen Meng, Ding Ning/Chen Meng and Wang Manyu/Zhu Yuling took all seats of the matches.

As the No.2 Seeded player of the tournament, Zhu Yuling was very familiar with how her teammate Chen Meng played. The two have played against each other 15 times in the past, Zhu was leading slightly with eight wins.

Chinese duo Chen Meng (L) and Ding Ning (R) won the women's doubles title at the 2018 ITTF Korea Open. /VCG Photo

In the final on Sunday, Zhu gained a head start with 11-4 in the first round. Though Chen clawed back in the second round and led twice in the third and fifth round, Zhu showed her steadiness at key moments and took the following three rounds, winning the title with a general 4-1.

Previously, in another “Team China civil war,” Ding Ning/Chen Meng and Wang Manyu/Zhu Yuling fought a stalemated battle in the first three rounds before Ding/Chen led with 2-1. In the fourth round, Ding/Chen started with 3-0 and expanded their lead to 5-1. Though Wang/Zhu launched counterattacks they failed to turn the tide and had to watch their teammates pocket the title.

Team China performed badly in the men’s singles and doubles, Liang Jingkun entered the final to play against Jang Woo-jin from the Republic of Korea (ROK). Having lost the first two rounds, Liang was pinned down by his rival who played more and more aggressively. In the end, Jang took the gold with a straight 4-0.

The ROK's Jang Woo-jin took home three championships at the tournament. /VCG Photo

In the men’s doubles, China’s Liang Jingkun/Yan An were stopped by inter-Korean combination Lee Sang-su /Pak Sin Hyok from the semifinal. In the final, ROK duo Jang Woo-jin/Lim Jong-hoon defeated Ho Kwan Kit/Wong Chun Ting, a pair from Hong Kong with 3-1 to win the gold.

In addition to the mixed doubles championship on Saturday taken with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) Cha Hyo Sim, ROK player Jang Woo-jin pocketed three titles at the tournament, becoming the biggest dark horse of the event.