North Korean Table Tennis Duo Stuns Japan with Dominant Win in Olympic Mixed Doubles
In a stunning upset, North Korea's table tennis duo, Ri Jong-sik and Kim Kum-yong, has defeated Japan's Tomokazu Harimoto and Hina Hayata in the round of 16 mixed doubles event at the Paris Olympic Games. The match was highly anticipated, with many predicting a close contest between the two teams.
27 July 2024
However, it was the North Korean pair who emerged victorious, taking the match 4-1 in a dominant performance. The crowd was on the edge of their seats as the two teams clashed, with the North Koreans displaying exceptional skill and strategy.
On Chinese social media platform Weibo, netizens are abuzz with excitement and surprise at the outcome of the match. Many are praising the North Korean duo for their impressive performance, with some even referring to them as "神秘之师" or "mysterious masters."
One user, @许昕 (Xu Xin), a well-known Chinese table tennis player and commentator, had predicted that the North Korean team would be a dark horse in the competition. "I knew it was going to be a tough match," Xu Xin wrote in a post. "I predicted that the North Korean team would be a mystery, and that they would be evenly matched with the Japanese team. And it turns out, I was right!"
Other observers are marveling at the North Korean duo's impressive skills, with one user commenting, "李正植/金琴英4比1张本智和/早田希娜真是黑马之姿啊" (Ri Jong-sik/Kim Kum-yong 4-1 Zhang Ben-zi/Early Tiantian, this is indeed a dark horse!) Another user added, "朝鲜乒乓神秘之师#朝鲜组合李正植/金琴英击败张本智和/早田希娜后击掌相庆" (North Korean table tennis mysterious masters#North Korean duo Ri Jong-sik/Kim Kum-yong defeat Zhang Ben-zi/Early Tiantian and celebrate with a high-five).
The upset has also sparked debate among table tennis fans, with some questioning the strength of the Japanese team. "日乒止步混双首轮#许昕神秘之师不好惹" (Japanese table tennis stopped in the first round of mixed doubles# Xu Xin's mysterious masters are not to be underestimated), one user wrote.
As the tournament continues, all eyes will be on the North Korean duo to see if they can maintain their momentum and make it to the finals. For now, however, they are basking in the glory of their impressive win, and their fans are celebrating their underdog story.
The match has also generated significant buzz among Chinese sports fans, with many taking to Weibo to share their reactions and analysis of the game. The hashtag #朝鲜乒乓不愧神秘之师# (North Korean table tennis deserves the title of mysterious masters) has gone viral, with users sharing images and videos of the match.
In the world of table!tennis, upsets are always exciting, but this one has taken on a special significance, given the surprise and admiration it has generated among fans and commentators alike. As one user succinctly put it, "奥运会##咪咕直播奥运每一刻#pletely dominated the Japanese team" (The Olympics##Migu live broadcasts every moment of the Olympics).
