The GAC Group 2015 World Tour Korea Open has started in Incheon
The US$3 000 000 GAC Group 2015 World Tour continues today with the qualification for the Korea Open (Super Series) beginning in Incheon.
Despite some teams pulling out of the 12th World Tour stop of the year due to the MERS outbreak the ITTF is confident that the health of the players and officials is not at risk.
ITTF’s CEO Judit FARAGO stated: “We are happy that the Korea Open is going ahead as planned. ITTF and Korean Table Tennis Association have been very consciously checking on the situation and we will do everything to ensure the health of all players and officials.
“We have been in close contact with FISU as the Universiade takes place in Korea at the same time as the Korea Open and the World Health Organisation (WHO).Both organisations have suggested precautious health practice but does not recommend travel restrictions to Korea.”
The Korea Open will be the first major event that YANG Haeun will be playing in her home country since she was crowned Mixed Doubles World Champion in Suzhou.
The 6th seed stated: “t is a nice thought to be playing in my home event as a World Champion! I will be doing my best to make my country proud. Winning my first World Tour title here in my home country would be a dream come true.”
The 21 year old’s biggest threat will come from the ever dangerous Japanese trio of Kasumi ISHIKAWA Ai FUKUHARA and Mima ITO who have all tasted success already on the World Tour in 2015.
Jun MIZUTANI (JPN) is the top male seed here in Incheon and will be looking for a better result than his second round exit last week at the Japan Open. This will be no easy task for the world number five as he is due to meet the surprise finalist of the Japan Open Maharu YOSHIMURA (JPN) in the second round.
The local crowd will be hoping for the Australian Open Champion JUNG Youngsik and the legendary Joo Saehyuk to bring home the gold for Korea.
The Korea Open being held on 1-5 July 2015 is the 12th stop of the US$3 000 000 GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour with all players pushing for Race to Lisbon points in a bid to qualify for the World Tour Grand Final later in the year.
The qualification rounds beginning today 1 July 2015 at the Namdong Gymnasium. The prestigious event sees participation of 115 men and women all vying to be the 15th Korea Open Champion.
The GAC Group 2015 World Tour is offering a record US$3 000 000 in prize money and will also be the most viewed in history with more events shown live throughout the world on television and all the events being shown live on ITTF’s live streaming platform ITTF.com/itTV.
The Korea Open is one of six GAC Group World Tour Super Series events in 2015 which is the top tier on the World Tour. The rest of the World Tour events are split into Major series (6 events) and Challenge (11 events)
The top 16 singles and top eight doubles pairs on the Race to Lisbon Standings will be invited to the prestigious 2015 World Tour Grand Finals to be held in Lisbon Portugal on 10-13 December 2015.
