SINGAPORE — South Korea’s "Golden Duo," Lim Jong-hoon (Korea Exchange Bank) and Shin Yu-bin (Korean Air), continue their dominant run on the international stage. The world’s top-ranked mixed doubles pair successfully advanced to the quarterfinals of the WTT Singapore Smash after a thrilling comeback victory on Monday.
A Hard-Fought Comeback
In a high-stakes Round of 16 match held on the 23rd, Lim and Shin faced the formidable multinational pairing of Alexis Lebrun (France) and Satsuki Odo (Japan). The match tested the resilience of the world leaders, as they narrowly escaped an upset by securing a 3-2 victory ($11text{-}13, 4text{-}11, 11text{-}8, 11text{-}6, 11text{-}8$).
The match began with significant tension. Lim and Shin initially took a commanding 5-1 lead in the first game, maintaining their edge at 9-6. However, a series of unforced errors allowed Lebrun and Odo to claw back, eventually snatching the game in a deuce. The momentum shifted further away from the Koreans in the second game, leaving them trailing 0-2 and facing an early exit.
True to their ranking, the duo’s "perfect chemistry" revitalized in the third game. By tightening their defense and exploiting Lebrun’s aggressive style, they took the third and fourth games convincingly. In the deciding fifth game, despite trailing 2-3 early on, they reeled off four consecutive points to lead 6-3. A final push at 7-6 saw them score three straight points to seal the match.
The Rise of the World No. 1s
Lim and Shin’s ascent to the top of the ITTF Mixed Doubles World Rankings earlier this month marked a historic milestone for South Korean table tennis. Their journey to the summit was paved by a spectacular 2024 season and a career-defining performance at the WTT Finals Hong Kong 2025 last December.
At the Hong Kong Finals, they proved their mettle by defeating the world's best:
Semifinals: Defeated Lin Shidong & Kuai Man (China) 3-1.
Finals: Swept the legendary Wang Chuqin & Sun Yingsha (China) 3-0.
This victory followed a prolific year where they captured three WTT Series titles in Chennai, Ljubljana, and Zagreb.
The Road to the Podium
With China opting to field the world No. 10 pair of Huang Youzheng and Chen Yi for this tournament—rather than their top-tier pairs who usually dominate the circuit—Lim and Shin are widely considered the favorites to take the title in Singapore.
They are scheduled to face Germany’s Dang Qiu and Sabine Winter in the quarterfinals. A win there would put them in a prime position to claim their first WTT Series trophy of 2026.
Other Notable Results
In a surprising turn of events, another Korean representative found success through a cross-border partnership. Kim Na-young (POSCO International), paired with Hong Kong’s Baldwin Chan, upset the veteran Taiwanese duo of Lin Yun-ju and Cheng I-ching with a 3-1 victory ($11text{-}8, 5text{-}11, 11text{-}7, 11text{-}9$). Kim and Chan will also compete in the quarterfinals, highlighting the rising depth of Korean talent in the mixed doubles discipline.
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