'Bronze secured'—men's and women's table tennis teams both reach semifinals, setting up fateful Korea-Japan showdowns on the 23rd [Nagoya AG]

[Financial News] South Korea's men's and women's table tennis teams at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games both reached the team-event semifinals, securing at least bronze. With a place in the final at stake, both teams will face host Japan in a fateful Korea-Japan showdown.
In the team-event quarterfinals held on the 22nd at Sky Hall Toyota in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, the men's and women's teams displayed overwhelming skill to earn semifinal berths. Because the Asian Games table tennis team event does not hold a separate third-place match, teams that reach the semifinals are guaranteed at least a bronze medal.

The men's national team, led by head coach Choi Young-il, followed its round-of-16 victory over India by routing Hong Kong 3-0 in match score in the quarterfinals.
Star player Jang Woojin (SeAH) took the initiative by comfortably defeating Baldwin Chan 3-0 (11-7 11-4 11-8) in the first singles match. Oh Junsung (Korea Exchange (KRX)) then beat Wong Chun-ting 3-0 (11-8 11-7 12-10) in the second singles match. An Jae-hyun (KRX) sealed the victory in the third singles match, overcoming Lam Siu-hang 3-1 (13-11 4-11 13-11 12-10) after a fierce deuce battle.
After winning silver in the team event at eight consecutive Asian Games, from Hiroshima in 1994 through Hangzhou in 2022, the men's team is seeking its third title overall and its first in 36 years since the 1990 Beijing Games.
The women's national team also advanced to the semifinals on the same day after defeating Singapore 3-0 in match score in the quarterfinals.

Ace Shin Yu-bin (Korean Air) got the team off to a strong start by defeating Ser Lin Qian 3-1 (11-4 11-6 5-11 11-5) in the first singles match. Joo Cheon-hui (Samsung Life Insurance) then secured a narrow 3-2 victory over Loy Ming Ying in a full-set battle in the second singles match (11-9 8-11 11-5 3-11 11-9). Kim Nayeong (POSCO International) sealed the win by routing Tan Zhao Yun 3-0 (11-8 11-5 11-5) in the third singles match.
The women's team won its first and only gold medal at the 1986 Seoul Games but has not reached the final since the 1990 Beijing Games. At the past two Asian Games—in Jakarta-Palembang in 2018 and Hangzhou in 2022—it won consecutive bronze medals.
The men's and women's teams will play their joint Korea-Japan semifinal showdowns on the 23rd, with the medal color at stake. The men's team will play at 5 p.m., while the women's team will face Japan's women's team, which advanced by defeating Taiwan, at 7:30 p.m.  

[email protected] Park Ji-hyun Reporter