The Korean Men’s Team made the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games quarterfinals at the expense of Malaysia with a 3-1 win at the Binjiang Gymnasium on Thursday.
Key to Korea’s victory was their unheralded singles players – Jeon Hyeok Jin and Lee Yun Gyu, who notched surprise wins over much higher-ranked opponents.
World No.47 Jeon put Korea one up with a 68-minute 21-14 14-21 21-18 result against Lee Zii Jia, a player ranked 31 spots above him.
Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik’s 21-17 21-9 win over Seo Seung Jae/Kang Min Hyuk in the battle between the last two world champions restored parity before Lee Yun Gyu struck. Taking to court as the second singles, the world No.119 got the job done in just two games, beating world No.19 Ng Tze Yong 21-11 21-16. Kim Won Ho/Na Sung Seung’s 21-16 21-18 win over Ong Yew Sin/Teo Ee Yi secured the tie and a last eight clash with Indonesia on Friday for Korea.
In Women’s Team, India and Chinese Taipei – led by Pusarla V. Sindhu and Tai Tzu Ying respectively – were the two major outfits to start in the first round but both recorded comprehensive 3-0 wins over Mongolia and Hong Kong China.
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