On March 27, 2024, Beijing time, at the WTT Incheon Championships, the host South Korean players were in good shape, Tian Zhixi and Wu Huicheng both won in the deciding game and advanced to the women's singles round of 16 and men's singles round of 16 respectively. Subsequently, the veteran Lee Sang-so appeared on the court and faced Canada's Lee Yuanzhang in the first round, who had not been qualified, but Wang Chuqin withdrew, and Li Yuanzhang participated in the competition as a substitute for Wang Chuqin, but he lost 0-3.
In this competition, 8 people from the national table tennis team were qualified, but Wang Chuqin took the initiative to withdraw from the competition, and he had to adjust his physical condition and prepare for the World Cup. In the case of Wang Chuqin's withdrawal, the national table tennis players did not get a substitute place, but Canadian player Li Yuanzhang participated as a substitute and became Wang Chuqin's stand-in. However, Li Yuanzhang's strength is average, and it is difficult to compete with Li Shangzhu, Li Shangzhu is experienced, and his form this season is very good, and he has defeated Ma Long and Lin Gaoyuan of national table tennis.
In the first game of the game, Lee Sang-so quickly took the initiative and won the first game 11-7. Li Yuanzhang is very passive, fully at a disadvantage, the second game is 0-4 start, he played very hard, but the overall strength is far inferior to Lee Sang-so, Li Sang-su who is fighting at home is at ease, and wins another game 11-4. In the third game, Lee Sang-so didn't waste too much time, suppressed Li Yuanzhang for most of the whole game, locked the win with 11-9, eliminated Li Yuanzhang with a big score of 3-0, and easily advanced to the top 16 of men's singles.
As Wang Chuqin's stand-in, Li Yuanzhang has a big gap, and in the eyes of many fans, he wasted a championship seat, and in terms of his strength, he really can't reach the level of the championship. Therefore, some fans said that it is better to give national table tennis, and it should be more reasonable for Lin Gaoyuan to participate as a substitute. Of course, the facts can no longer be changed, and Li Yuanzhang also tried his best, but his overall strength was relatively poor.
The host South Korean team profited from this, and since the start of the first matchday, the Korean team has won three consecutive victories, Tian Zhixi eliminated Yuan Jiannan 3-2, Wu Huicheng eliminated Omar Asal 3-2, and then Lee Sang-so swept Lee Yuanzhang. At present, only Tian Zhixi's opponent in the second round has been confirmed, and that is Misei Ito. In addition, Wang Yidi and Liang Jingkun of national table tennis have also successfully advanced, and Liang Jingkun's opponent has also been determined, that is, Darko Joczyk.
There are still six first-round matches on the first matchday, with Ma Long taking on Moregaard, hosts South Korea's Shin Yubin taking on Polkanova, and Lee Si Win taking on Meshev to see who can deliver the first defeat to hosts South Korea!