KOREA SPRING CHAMPS – Soldiers Soldier On

Korea’s Spring Tournament wrapped up in the southern city of Gumi yesterday.  The military team, known informally as Sangmu, waltzed to a 3-1 victory over Gangnam Ward Office.  Sangmu has seen its ranks swell recently and now has three crew-cut-sporting national team members in Park Sung Hwan, Jung Jae Sung, and Han Sang Hoon.  Lee Hyun Il, who moved back to Seoul this year to fill the void in Gangnam left when Park enlisted, earned the only point for his team but he did not end up facing Park Sung Hwan in this competition.

The Samsung Electromechanics women’s team, meanwhile, saw its spring winning streak stop at three as they went down once again to KT&G.  Samsung is without singles ace Hwang Hye Youn, who has spent two months with her leg in a cast since injuring her foot last October.  Their other singles stalwarts, Kang Hae Won, Park So Ri and Seo Yoon Hee, fared well until the final but were no match for KT&G’s two Baes.  KT&G’s youngster Jung Kyung Eun stretched her winning streak against Olympic silver medallist Lee Kyung Won to three, as she and Bae Seung Hee beat Lee and Park So Ri to seal the win for KT&G.  Jung also beat Lee in the team final of the National Sports Festival in October and in the women’s doubles final of the Hwasun International.

Asian Junior Champion Kang Ji Wook won both his singles and doubles matches to book the win for his Jeju National University High School team.  Kang won each of his total of 8 matches in the 5 days of competition.  It has been a busy and successful spring for the youngster as he took two golds and a silver at the German Junior, then was off to the Asian Junior Championships within a week of his return, where he won the boys’ doubles title, then had only a week before beginning his winning campaign at this Spring Tournament.  Now, in about a week’s time, the Korean juniors are set to fly to Mexico for the World Junior Championships.

For photos from the early rounds of the Spring Tournament in Korea, CLICK HERE.