Ryu Seung-min explained

Ryu Seung-min
Playingstyle:	Right-handed, Japanese Penhold
Hrank:	2 (September 2004)^[1]
Birth Date:	5 August 1982^[2]
Birth Place:	Seoul, South Korea
Height:	178 cm
Weight:	73 kg

Hangul:	유승민
Hanja:	柳承敏
Rr:	Yu Seungmin
Mr:	Ryu Sŭngmin
Koreanipa:	pronounced as /ju.sɯŋ.min/

Ryu Seung-min (; pronounced as /ko/; born August 5, 1982) is a South Korean table tennis player who won the gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in the men's singles competition.^[3] His opponent was Wang Hao, a top-seeded player from the Chinese national team. Along the way, he defeated 1992 Olympic champion Jan-Ove Waldner with 4–1. At the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics he was part of the South Korean team that won the bronze and silver medals respectively.^{[4] [5]} Ryu is ranked twenty-fifth in the world as of July 2013. In 2016, Ryu became a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), he was a member and Chair of the Athletes' Commission of the South Korean National Olympic Committee from 2016 to 2019.^[6] Since 2018, he counts among the ITTF Foundation Ambassadors, promoting sport for development and peace.^[7]

In March 2022, Ryu signed with World Star Entertainment.^[8]

Style

Ryu Seung-min plays penhold style. Unlike players like Ma Lin and Wang Hao, Ryu never uses the backside of his blade – in fact, he does not even have rubber on it. Ryu relies on his outstanding footwork, explosive forehand loops and drives to win points. For some time he used Xiom (South Korea) table paddles and rubbers playing with his signature model "Ryu Seung Min Special" penhold and has been using ProZRSM ever since his victory at the 2004 Summer Olympics. Lately he switched again to Butterfly (Japan) equipment and now he uses their Ryu Seung-min G-Max blade with Tenergy 05.

As of December 1, 2012, he is ranked 20th in the world. His top ranking was world number 2 in September 2004, and since November 2001 he was always in top 25 of the ITTF world ranking list.

Career records

Singles (as of April 9, 2015)^[9]

• Olympics: Gold medal (2004).
• World Championships: SF (2007).
• World Cup appearances: 5. Record: runner-up (2007).
• Pro Tour winner (3): Egypt, USA Open 2004; Chile Open 2008.
  Runner-up (4): Swedish Open 2001; Brazil Open 2002; Japan Open 2005; Slovenian Open 2007; Kuwait Open 2012.
• Pro Tour Grand Finals appearances: 9. Record: SF (2003, 05, 10).
• Asian Games: SF (2006).
• Asian Championships: SF (2003).

Men's doubles

• Olympics: 4th (2000).
• World Championships: QF (2001, 05, 09).
• Pro Tour winner (8): China (Qingdao) Open 2002; Croatian, Egypt, USA Open 2004; Korea Open 2005; Chinese Taipei Open 2006; Kuwait Open 2007; Brazil Open 2012.
  Runner-up (4): China (Changchun) Open 2000; Korea Open 2010; Austrian Open 2010; Japan Open 2012.
• Pro Tour Grand Finals appearances: 4. Record: SF (2012).
• Asian Games: winner (2002).
• Asian Championships: SF (2005).

Mixed doubles

• World Championships: QF (2003).
• Asian Games: runner-up (2002).

Team

• Olympics: 3rd (2008), 2nd (2012).
• World Championships: 2nd (2006, 08); 3rd (2001, 04, 10, 12).
• World Team Cup: 2nd (2009); 3rd (2007).
• Asian Games: 2nd (2002, 06).
• Asian Championships: 2nd (2005).

Filmography

Television show

Notes and References

1. Web site: ITTF world ranking . International Table Tennis Federation . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100819134054/http://www.ittf.com/ittf_ranking/world_ranking_per_name.asp?Player_ID=108098&U18=0&U21=0&Siniors=1& . August 19, 2010 . mdy-all .
2. Web site: ITTF player's profile . International Table Tennis Federation . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110616211806/http://www.ittf.com/biography/biography_web_details.asp?Player_ID=108098 . June 16, 2011 . mdy-all .
3. Yu Seung-Min. https://web.archive.org/web/20200417204227/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/yu/yu-seung-min-1.html . dead . 2020-04-17 .
4. Web site: Beijing 2008 Team men Results - Olympic table-tennis.
5. Web site: London 2012 Team men Results - Olympic table-tennis.
6. Web site: Seung min Ryu . The International Olympic Committee . 3 March 2021 .
7. Web site: Our Ambassadors - ITTF Foundation. 2021-05-10. www.ittffoundation.org.
8. Web site: 남자 탁구 전설’ 유승민, 남현희와 한솥밥…월드스타와 계약. Ahn Jin-young. Legend of Men’s Table Tennis’ Yoo Seung-min, Nam Hyun-hee and Han Pot Rice… contract with world star. Munhwa Ilbo. Naver. March 24, 2022. March 24, 2022. ko.
9. Web site: ITTF Statistics . International Table Tennis Federation . 2011-01-17.
10. Web site: 올 탁구나!' 이진호·강승윤·신예찬·이태환, 멤버 완성..포스터 공개. Moon Ji-yeon. 'All table tennis!' Lee Jin-ho, Kang Seung-yoon, Shin Ye-chan, Lee Tae-hwan, members completed.. Poster released . Sports Chosun. Naver. February 15, 2022. February 15, 2022. ko.