"We witnessed a new 100 years for Korean table tennis," legend Hyun Jung-hwa moved... What did the Gangneung World Masters leave behind?

*This content was translated by AI.

Hyun Jung-hwa (57), a legend of Korean table tennis and head coach, shared her emotional experience of participating in a global mass sports festival.

The XIOM 2026 Gangneung World Masters Table Tennis Championships, where table tennis enthusiasts from countries around the world exchanged rackets across generations and borders, concluded its eight-day journey on the 12th. Hyun Jung-hwa, who oversaw the event from the bidding and preparation stages through to the venue, cited "safety" as the first meaning of a successful conclusion. She evaluated holding the tournament without any major accidents as its greatest achievement.

"When I first entered the venue, that image remains most vivid," Hyeon (Chairman) recalled via the Korea Table Tennis Association. "There were 100 table tennis tables laid out, and many people playing. It was truly unfamiliar. I had never seen such a sight before. Another memorable aspect was the participants. Even the older ones played table tennis with great seriousness."

She further emphasized, "We prioritized safety above all. Since many participants traveled to Korea after preparing for a long time, we wanted them to enjoy the competition in a good environment and return home safely."

In this tournament, Hyeon (Chairman) held a racket for the first time in a while. As the first registered participant, she demonstrated her prowess by winning all three of her group stage matches. Hyeon (Chairman) smiled, saying, "From the participants' perspective, it was truly a great environment. The venue facilities were as good as any world championship. In the matches, I encountered players who were stronger than I expected. I didn't think players of such a high level would emerge."

She added, "We must not underestimate recreational table tennis. These participants also have their own strengths and come out having prepared very hard. They were sincere, practicing for several hours every day."

She continued, "As athletes, we couldn't play table tennis purely for fun. But during this tournament, I realized, 'Table tennis can be enjoyed this way,' and 'The act of playing table tennis itself is a joyful thing.' We have mostly viewed table tennis through an elite lens until now, but this time, I saw a different dimension of the sport."

She also expressed gratitude toward the host city, Gangneung. Hyeon (Chairman) said, "I had a strong desire for the city of Gangneung to remain as a good memory for the participants. Furthermore, this tournament demonstrated that the facilities can be utilized well. It showed the possibility that they can be used not only for international sports events but also in various ways in the future."

With the 2024 Busan World Table Tennis Championships followed by this Masters, Korea has widely promoted its table tennis on the global stage.

"I believe that within the 100th-year history of Korean table tennis, we have hosted two world-class tournaments," Hyeon (Chairman) said. "I think these two events have shown a new 100 years for Korean table tennis that will continue into the future. I hope young players can see this kind of scene as well. It was an opportunity to experience a different dimension of table tennis beyond elite table tennis."

This tournament also brought a small turning point in Hyeon (Chairman)'s table tennis career. Having lived as the face of Korean table tennis, she said, "In fact, I lived with the constant thought that 'table tennis = Hyun Jung-hwa.' So, I felt a responsibility to always perform well and leave a good legacy. However, during this tournament, my thinking changed a bit. I realized that even if I don't play well, it's okay, and that many people are happy just because I play table tennis. In the future, I think I can move a bit away from that sense of responsibility and view table tennis more joyfully."

Finally, Hyeon (Chairman) conveyed sincerity to the officials who worked together on this tournament and the global table tennis family who visited Gangneung. He bowed his head and said, "First, I want to express my deepest gratitude to the officials. I know how much thought and preparation went into this. In particular, I was able to confirm once again the love for table tennis shown by Lee Tae-seong, the President of the Korea Table Tennis Association, who worked hard for this tournament. And I am also grateful to the global table tennis family who traveled from far away to visit Korea. Thanks to everyone who participated, we were able to conclude this as a meaningful tournament."

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*This content was translated by AI.