Japan's national women's table tennis team, Hirano Miu, expressed her hope for a rematch with "Piyak" Shin Yu-bin.
"Hirano Miu mentioned the 2024 Paris Olympics as his best memory this year," Japanese sports media "Sports Hochi" said on the 28th. "We are eager to have a rematch with Korean ace Shin Yu-bin."
Hirano clashed with Shin in the quarterfinals of the women's singles table tennis at the 2024 Paris Olympics in August. Shin showed off his good form early in the game against Miu Hirano, swallowing 11-4 games, 11-7 games in two games, and 11-5 games in three games to gain an advantage in advancing to the semifinals.
However, Hirano did not easily back down. He even engaged in a war of nerves, such as cutting off Shin's tempo if he vacated the court for 15 minutes, saying he would change his uniform. Hirano fought back by winning 11-7 in four games and 11-8 in five games and 11-9 in six games, tying the game score 3-3.
Shin's expectation of a comfortable victory turned into a crisis in which he had to worry about a reverse sweep and upset loss. Shin was also dragged 9-10 in seven games.
However, the final winner was Shin. Shin scored three consecutive deuces and ended the bloody battle for more than an hour and a half.
At the end of the game, Shin Yu-bin shed tears of joy, and Hirano Miu shed tears containing the pain of defeat. Hirano Miu said at the time, "I worked hard thinking that I couldn't lose like this, but I'm upset that I didn't win at the end."
Hirano Miu shook off the pain of failing to make it to the quarterfinals in the women's singles in the team event. By winning the silver medal in the team event with her teammates, she was able to climb to the podium at the Paris Olympics.
Miu Hirano also won a silver medal in women's team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (which was held in 2021 in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic) in her home country, while grabbing her second consecutive Olympic medal. In February, she visited South Korea to participate in the 스포츠토토 2024 World Championships in Busan.
"Hirano Miu has participated in many competitions both domestically and internationally this year. He chose to play against South Korea's ace player Shin Yu-bin in the quarterfinals of women's singles at the Paris Olympics," Sports Hochi said. "The result was a loss after a full game, but his team's 0-3 inferiority and nudged Shin Yu-bin heated up the Japanese archipelago."
Shin is currently ranked 10th, four places higher than Hirano Miu, who is ranked 14th. Shin has perfectly established himself as the ace in Korean table tennis by winning the mixed doubles and women's team bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Hirano Miu praised Shin, saying, "He is young, but he is very competitive. He is strong technically and mentally, but he is also very tough. I think this is the most impressive part."