Olympic Games: Table tennis: In the South Arena, the Olympics become the Asian Games

The stage is set for the first decision in the Olympic table tennis tournament: Hall 4 in the Paris South Arena has cooled down considerably, while outside at 36 degrees there is an announcement at every tram stop telling you to drink lots of water and please avoid any direct sunlight.

Olympic gold will be awarded in mixed doubles this Tuesday afternoon. 6,400 people are spread across the stands, you’d think you’re at the Asian Games: Japanese, North Koreans and South Koreans en masse – and of course Chinese: The People’s Republic is the world power in this sport. The press box is predominantly occupied by Asian colleagues, even the volunteers in this hall seem to come from Asia: it is obvious on which continent this sport is most popular, even if people in Germany consider themselves to be a strong table tennis nation.

When the finalists arrive, it becomes clear who wants to have the upper hand here this afternoon: China flags all around, the hall is screaming and raging. Many have stuck China’s heart-shaped flag on their cheek. They want to see their idols: Sun Yingsha and their compatriot Wang Chuqin, superstars back home. Both are at the top of the world rankings. Anything other than victory today would be a disappointment. IOC President Thomas Bach and his entourage have sat down in the stands.

But in all the China-China celebrations, a single North Korean flag is also being held high: Ri Jong Sik and Kim Kun Yong actually made it into the final here today, two completely unknown sizes in the table tennis world. Neither the 24-year-old Ri nor his colleague Kim (22) are in the world rankings. They simply do not appear at tournaments in the World Table Tennis Series. But on the way to the final, the mixed doubles from Pyongyang beat all of their competitors, including the number 2 seeded Japanese mixed duo at the start. What would they be able to do against the Chinese?

The Chinese wear red jerseys with gold threads woven into them, the North Koreans wear plain blue. The competitors shake hands carefully, warm up in a disciplined manner, then it starts: serve China. The first point goes to the People’s Republic, the hall is a huge scream. The Chinese play their athletic game quite confidently. The first set goes to them 11:6. But the North Koreans are holding out: they won the second round with persistent resistance. 7:11. A few officials in PRK tracksuits do a dance in the Olympic Family stands.

The North Koreans were missing from the previous games in Tokyo; due to the corona pandemic, the strictly isolated country had decided not to take part after forming a joint team with their arch-enemy South Korea in women’s ice hockey in 2018. Every time you hope for gestures of relaxation at the Olympics. But China’s mixed doubles is not a gesture of relaxation, they beat their opponents 11:8 and 11:5, the fourth and decisive winning set seems only a formality, then the North Koreans come back again: 7:11 is on the scoreboard after round five , because Kim Kun Yong in particular is suddenly competing at the highest level.

There are now spectacular rallies again and again, including in the sixth set. But the Chinese are no longer deterred. Finally it’s 10:8, match point. Absolute silence in the hall. North Korea serves, but then Ri Jong Sik misses a final smash. From the dream of North Korean Olympic gold: 11:8 for China, Wang and Sun raise their arms. As expected, the People’s Republic secured its first table tennis title at these Games.

At the award ceremony, some China fans in the hall had tears in their eyes. But at least they also cheer lovingly for the underdogs from the neighboring People’s Republic. When the anthem sounds, everyone around the hall sings along fervently. And in the end there is even a happy ending when the third-placed South Koreans Shin Yubin/Lim Jonghoon take a selfie with the Chinese and the North Koreans. The six protagonists of this competition photograph themselves from all directions for two minutes. A bit of peace, at least this Tuesday in the Paris South Arena.

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