Ryu Seung-min to Play Face-to-Face Against Wang Hao

South Korea`s Ryu Seung-min (22 years old, Samsung Life Insurance), who won the gold medal over 21-year-old Chinese star player Wang Hao in men`s table tennis singles at the 2004 Athens Olympics, will have another match with the Chinese player.

The two players will play again in the 2004 World Cup games to be held in Hangzhou, China from October 27 to October 31. Ryu beat Wang, 4-2, in the Olympics.

Also playing at this event will be those ranked in the top 16 in the world in men’s table tennis, including the top six players in the International Table Tennis Federation and the winners of continental championships.

Among South Korean players who will seek a gold medal at the event are Joo Se-hyuk (Korea Armed Forces Athletic Corps), the winner of the semifinals in the men’s singles event in the 2003 World Championship, and Korean women’s team ace Kim Kyung-ah (Korean Air).

Meanwhile, Ryu, who flew to China on Thursday night, will also join the Chinese Sichuan team in entering the Chinese table tennis super league, scheduled from October 23 to November 9.

Sung-Kyu Kim kimsk@donga.com