Not many people have been impressed with the performance of Team Korea Republic at the ZEN-NOH 2019 ITTF Team World Cup. While they might have been winning their matches but their finesse coupled with the unique style of play have not come to fore in Tokyo.

Or so it seemed to be until this morning when the Korea Republic side warmed themselves back into the heart of their fans with their display against Team Chinese Taipei. With the manner they humbled the Chinese Taipei athletes, the Korea Republicans have found their feet with their aggressiveness and fighting-spirit aiding their triumph over their opponent.

They have been unbeaten in the competition having taken down the likes of United States and Sweden in the group matches to set up a quarter-final tie against Brazil. And in the encounter against a Brazilian side without talisman Hugo Calderano, the most experienced member of the Korea Republic team, Lee Sangsu failed to come to the party by losing 3-1 to Eric Jouti. But the Koreans still managed to secure their passage to the semi-final.

In the semi-final clash against Chinese Taipei, the Korea Republic athletes put all their feet forward and ensured that they were not stung by the Chinese Taipei side. A comeback from the pair of Lee Sangsu and Jeoung Youngsik  against Chen Chien-An and Liao Cheng-Ting was the motivation they needed to eventually humble Chinese Taipei.

Korea Republic were trailing Chinese Taipei 2-0 in the doubles, but with their unique aggressiveness they restored parity and went ahead to win 3-2. Jang Woojin did not lift his foot from the pedal when he took on Lin Yun-Ju to record a 3-1 win. To confine Chinese Taipei to a 3-0 loss, it was Youngsik that sparkled against Chen Chien-An with a 3-0 win to complete the 3-0 rout and a berth in the final.

Earlier in the competition, Lee Sangsu has said that they are missing their aggressiveness in all their matches but in the semifinal, the 29-year-old admitted,

“It was a very difficult match for us particularly in the doubles tie. The Chinese Taipei doubles’ pair are very strong and they showed that by taking a 2-0 lead. But we were determined to reverse the match and we started playing aggressively. This really worked us to win the tie at 3-2 and winning the doubles really motivated us to go all out in the match.” Lee Sangsu.

Team Korea Republic are now awaiting either China or Japan in the final and Lee Sangsu said:

“For the final, both China and Japan are very strong; but anyone of them that emerge, we are sure that the final will be very exciting tomorrow.” Lee Sangsu