Jung Youngsik Wins Men’s Singles Title, Most Successful Player in Incheon
Courtesy of ITTF

Winner earlier in the day in the Men’s Doubles event in partnership with colleague Kim Minseok, Jung Youngsik won the Men’s Singles title at the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour Korea Open on the late afternoon of Sunday July 5th; thus he left the city of Incheon as the most successful player in the whole tournament.

Often it is quoted that experience counts, in the contest to decide the name of the champion it was youthful athletic enthusiasm that won the day, as the 23 year old the no.4 seed beat compatriot, 35 year old Joo Saehyuk, the no.4 seed and the oldest player in the whole tournament, to arrest the title.

Impressively Jung Youngsik won in five games (11-9, 11-1, 9-11, 11-9, 11-8); to inflict yet another defeat in an ITTF World Tour Men’s Singles final on his senior adversary; six appearances, five defeats is the Joo Saehyuk tally.

Unbelievable Feeling
“It is an unbelievable feeling to be the champion here in my home country”, said Jung Youngsik. “My victory at the Australian Open earlier this year was my first ever ITTF World Tour title and it gave me immense confidence, as I now believe that I am good enough to be winning these big events.”

Landmark Results
Undoubtedly succeeding in the Australian city of Tweed Heads was a landmark victory for Jung Youngsik, when he beat Hong Kong’s Ho Kwan Kit in the final. However, was the result of one week earlier in the Philippines, when the top seed, he had been beaten by Japan’s second seeded Yuya Oshima in the final been even more telling?

Was it that reverse given the Korean that vital extra degree of motivation and self-belief?

Quarterfinal Exits
Prior the Philippines, Jung Youngsik had never ventured beyond the last eight of in an ITTF World Tour Men’s Singles event, six quarter-finals, six defeats.

However, with the benefit of hindsight, he did show signs earlier this year on the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour, that progressing to the concluding day of action was very much on the cards.

Last Eight in Kuwait and Qatar
In Kuwait, notably he beat Vladimir Samsonov of Belarus and colleague Kim Minseok; before, as previously during his career losing at the quarterfinal stage to China’s redoubtable Xu Xin.

One week later in Qatar, it was again quarterfinal qualms. He accounted for Austria’s Chen Weixing and Poland’s Daniel Gorak before Germany’s Dimitrij Ovtcharov ended adventures.

First Round Exits
Similarly on the latter’s home soil in Bremen. He experienced defeat at the hands of Dimitrij Ovtcharov, being beaten in the opening round; a fate he was to suffer one week ago in Kobe, when losing to the host nation’s in form Maharu Yoshimura.

It would seem that just as his in win in Australia was a source of motivation, so was his defeat in the Land of the Rising Sun.

“I felt that I was playing well last week at the Japan Open and still lost pretty early, which I was very disappointed about, I am glad that I could get the results that I was looking for here”, explained Jung Youngsik. “All my focus is now trying to qualify to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.”

Focus on Rio de Janeiro
Only Joo Saehyuk remains from the Men’s Team who gained the silver medal at the London 2012 Olympic Games, Ryu Seungmin and Oh Sangeun have retired from the international scene; for Jung Youngsik, an opportunity surely awaits.

Two ITTF World Tour Men’s Singles titles in 2015, wins against high class experienced players, surely he has stated his case.

Results: Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles