They are now one win away from their first women’s individual gold medal in 30 years.

‘Batchmate duo’ Shin Yubin (Korean Air) and Jeon Jeon-hee (Mirae Asset Securities) swept aside China’s ‘world champions’ Sun Yingxia and Wang Manyu 3-0 (11-7 11-9 11-6) in the women’s doubles semi-finals at the ITTF World Individual Championships 2023 in Durban, South Africa, on 26 June.

It was a result no one expected.스포츠토토

The Chinese pair of Xin Yubin and Jeon Jeon-hee are ranked 12th in doubles, while Sun Yingxia and Wang Man-yue are ranked first. In addition, Sun Yingxia and Wang Manyu are ranked first and second in singles.

This was a victory against arguably the strongest doubles pair in the world.

Their performance was even more shocking than the result. They didn’t back down and went toe-to-toe to win.

The power of Chinese women”s players is comparable to that of men”s players from other countries.

However, Sun Yingxia and Wang Manyu were unable to showcase their skills against Xin Yubin and Zhen Zhenhui.

They were overwhelmed by Zhen’s quick and powerful attacks. When the Chinese pair did manage to land an attack, Xin Yubin was relentless.

The two played a fantastic combination, each utilising their strengths to cover the other’s weaknesses.

The usually emotionless Sun Yingxia’s face became distorted in the middle and late stages of game two.

After the match, she said, “I still can’t believe it. I don’t even know what’s going on, it’s like a dream,” she said.

“It’s been my dream to reach the final once, and I’m so grateful to my partner,” said Jeon, who has finally shaken off her major tournament jinx.

“I watched you play and thought, ‘Wow, wow, wow,'” Shin laughed, adding, “In the last match, we lost because we tried to avoid our opponent because she was good, but this time we won because we just did our thing.”

The duo, who never hesitate to show their affection and trust for each other in their post-match interviews, also gave credit to Korean Table Tennis Association President Yoo Seung-min.

Yoo had bought them steaks the day before to cheer them up.

“I think I’m crazy today because of the steaks (he bought),” Jeon said, clapping her hands with Shin Yubin.

Reaching the women’s doubles semi-finals for the first time in 12 years and securing a bronze medal was enough for the Korean women to call it a success.

But Shin and Jeon are not slowing down anytime soon.

They have reached the final of the women’s individual event for the first time in 30 years since the 1993 Games in Gothenburg, Sweden, when Hyun Jung-hwa won gold in the women’s singles.

With one more win, she will give Korean table tennis its first women’s individual gold medal in 30 years.

In the women’s doubles event alone, it would be the first gold medal in 36 years since Yang Young-ja and Hyun Jung-hwa won the title in 1987 in New Delhi, India.

Their final opponents are once again the Chinese pair. They will face the world number seven pair of Chen Meng and Wang Yidi at 1.30am on the 28th.

“It’s great to be able to play the next match. “The Chinese players are very good, so I will prepare as well as I did for this match to create something good and hopefully win,” she said.

“I have Yoo Bin-yi by my side, so I’m not afraid to trust my partner and have fun,” said Jeon Jeon-hee.