"International Open Table Tennis Competition of Korea" A meeting that focuses on the direction of intercultural sports exchange Interview with Park Il-soon, President of the Taekwondo Association of Taejon City

"As the title of the International Open Table Tennis Competition of Korea, I hope that North and South go even further in" table tennis "

Park, He-soon (63 years old), head of the Daejeon table tennis badociation, expressed his opinion on the international table tennis tournament of the Korea Open, which will take place from the 17th to the 22nd at Daejeon Chungmu-Hanbat Gymnasium.

For a year, Park has been playing from all sides to host the tournament in Daejeon in 10 years since 2008. Up to the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and the Korean Tennis Association of Table, S & # 39; he was convinced of the advantages of attracting Daejeon, he also fully utilized the links that he had woven with the general manager of the table tennis badociation, the vice- President and the National Olympic Coach.

"I participated in the 8th International Table Tennis Tournament of the Open Korea that took place in Daejeon in May 2008. I am again able to host the International Convention in Daejeon as president of the table tennis badociation this year. "

This is a platinum competition, and it is the highest ranking among international table tennis competitions. 238 athletes from 28 countries, including North Korea, will participate. In particular, the best players such as China have dominated the level of the competition. Seven people participate in the top ten world rankings in the men's division, and the ten women in the world rankings participate. The total price is $ 266,000 (about 300 million won). All games are free to watch.

President Park thanks North Korea for participating in the contest. Meanwhile, North Korea sent a team to the Asian Games in Busan in 2002 and the Asian Games in Incheon in 2014, but this is the first time that it has participated in a single event.

Park said, "We have pbaded the application to participate in North Korea before the end of last month's final entry, but it was confirmed late after it was not completed. not concluded. "North Korea's participation in a unique event There is also great significance," he said.

Park hopes to expand the base of table tennis with this tournament.

He said, "Daejeon is a table tennis town that serves as a model throughout the country." There is a placement system related to elementary, college, high school, university and unemployment. Stress. The presidential term national table tennis tournament has won three consecutive games this year, and the national championship has won four consecutive victories last year.

In this tournament, there will be nine men, including Kim Byung-hyun (Daejeon Dongsan 3), Seo Hong-chan and Kang Jin-ho (Dongsan 2).

Park said: "I hope this tournament will be a great attraction for the citizens of Daejeon and will be an opportunity for table tennis players to improve their performance."