Suh Hyo-won
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South Korea
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South Korea
Thanks to the Internet, the world has become a truly global environment. We are more aware of celebrities, artists, and athletes. Just because a person is from one country doesn’t mean they can’t be a star in another country. This is particularly true of table tennis player Suh Hyo-won. Born in South Korea, she represents her home country for sport but is well-known around the world, most particularly in China. Thanks in large part to table tennis’s immense popularity in China and South Korea’s close proximity, Hyo-won is perhaps even more famous in China than she is in South Korea. Whether you’ve come across Suh Hyo-won due to her table tennis performance or her stylish pictures in magazines, keep reading to learn more about her.
Quick Facts
Biography
Suh Hyo-won was born on May 10, 1987, in Gyeongju, South Korea. Due to the English pronunciation of her name, she is sometimes credited as Sew Hyo-won.
Her introduction to the world of table tennis is rather cute. Apparently, when she was in elementary school, she was promised a snack as a reward for playing table tennis in a physical education class. Like any kid, the snack was a good enough incentive and that one introduction led to a lifetime love of the sport.
Even though South Korea is so close geographically to China, it does not share the same structure for tennis table camps. As a result, finding a footing in the sport was difficult for Hyo-won. She suffered from a herniated back disc during high school and feared her playing career would be over. She stuck to it, however, and after a year of rehabilitation, was able to compete again.
Financing was another issue. Even though Hyo-won had the talent, it was hard to find financing for her team, and it wasn’t until other well-known table tennis players stepped in that she was able to get on a world tour to increase her name recognition and start winning prize money.
Career
Suh Hyo-won’s big break came in 2011 when she went to the Korea Table Tennis Open. There she was finally able to show offer her skills, especially when she won against other top players.
Then, in 2014, Hyo-won was selected for the South Korean national team which brought new sponsorships and more opportunities to showcase her talents in an international setting.
Tenacity is a good word to describe Hyo-won. There are many times in her life when she could have given up but she kept battling and kept going.
Playing Style
In terms of playing style, Suh Hyo-won is self-assured but not too aggressive. She has the ability to wait for an opponent to strike and then can counter that move with speed and agility.
She uses a shakehand grip, which is the most common for table tennis players. It is similar to holding a tennis racket and allows for greater maneuverability if you want to switch to a backhand.
The more we learn about Hyo-won’s history, the more her playing makes sense. This is a player that wasn’t handed everything. Instead, she had to fight hard to come back from injury and find financing so she can play to her best ability.
If there is anything to take away from Hyo-won’s story, it is that perseverance combined with talent can take you very far in life.
Those that are interested in table tennis will hopefully be inspired by this impressive athlete. If you are wondering where to start with your practice, having a table tennis net is a good place to begin.
While there are many options, you can start with our list of the best table tennis nets. Many fold in half for easy storage and there are some decent affordable options. Another option to consider if you are short on space or just so keen that you want to practice anywhere is this review of the best retractable ping pong nets. These are compact so that you can carry them anywhere. Gone are the excuses for not being able to practice.
One other fun idea if you want to improve your skills is to have a partner that is available to play with you day or night. This compilation of the best ping pong robots may seem a little strange but you can program the robots for different speeds and strategies. It’s a great way to improve your game even if there is no one around to play with you.
Notable Achievements
Suh Hyo-wan made it to the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil as part of the South Korea Single’s event. She made it to the fourth round in the event but was bested by Taiwanese player Cheng I-ching.
In 2018, she won a bronze medal at the World Team Table Tennis Championships in Halmstad, Sweden.
Hyo-won’s best accomplishments have all happened within the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Tour. Here are some notable highlights:
- Won Gold at the Korea Open in 2013
- Won Gold at the Polish Open in 2013
- Won Gold at the Belgium Open in 2015
Ranking
Indeed, in 2014, Hyo-won was ranked number eight, which is truly remarkable. She hovered around the number 10 spot for the next few years until late 2019, when her ranking started to slip, although still at a very respectable number.
Social Media
Suh Hyo-won doesn’t have any English social media accounts but she is popular on the Chinese microblogging site Weibo. The reach of Weibo is staggering as there are over 340 active monthly users on the site.
Many videos and images of Hyo-won can be found on Weibo as she is extremely popular in South Korea and even more so in China. The combination of her talent and good looks has made her a fan favorite, even though she does not speak Mandarin.
In 2015, Hyo-won graced the cover of the Chinese edition of Maxim Magazine. Shortly afterward, she won many product endorsement deals including with a coffee brand.
It can be hard for female athletes to be taken seriously when there is so much fascination with their looks. Hopefully, for Hyo-won, the attention given to her was what she wanted it to be.
Suh Hyo-won Equipment
Videos
Final Thoughts
Suh Hyo-won should be an inspiration for people around the world. From battling a potentially career-ending injury to fighting hard to find the money to compete internationally, Hyo-won has shown time again how strong she is, both mentally and physically. While she plays for South Korea and is appreciated in her home country, her talent and good looks have made her a star in China. Although Suh Hyo-won may be just passed her prime, her table tennis career still has a lot of life left in it so if you haven’t seen her play yet, be sure to do so as you don’t want to miss this phenome.