South Korean Joo Tabs Low Key in Chinese Table Tennis League

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, August 07, 2003

South Korean Joo Tabs Low Key in Chinese Table Tennis League

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South Korean Joo Se-hyuk, who stunned the world by finishing runner-up in the men's singles at the 2003 world championship, was making a low key after entering the Chinese table tennis super league this season.

The 20-year-old Korean chopper who joined the Sichuan team in the Chinese league, was defeated by Chinese "King of Chopper" 32-year-old Ding Song 3-2 on Wednesday in the first clash of the bestchoppers in Asia as well as in the world.

Lagging behind 1-2, Ding Song, a losing semifinalist in the 1995 world championship, tied 2-2 overall by winning the fourth set 19-17 and clinched the victory by taking the decisive fifth 11-8 in Sichuan province.

Joo lamented that "I didn't have my best play in the match", while Ding acknowledged that "The match was hard to predict, and Idid not have any sure bet to beat him prior to the competition."

Earlier of the day, Joo was defeated by Li Jing of Chinese HongKong 12-10, 11-6 and 11-6 as the latter still felt grieved for hisdefeat in the world championship where he squandered a four-point lead in the decisive set against the Korean.

"To win over Joo Se Hyuk is the top priority for me," said Li.

Joo, who stunned Chinese Ma Lin, former top-ranked player in the world, in the semifinal of the world championship in Paris, arrived in Beijing last week and had his first match the followingday, beating Liu Heng of Beijing in 15 minutes.

Yet, Joo refrained from celebrating as he revealed his show-up in the league is to "have more exchanges with the best paddlers inChina."

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