South Korea's Lim and Shin win WTT Smash mixed doubles title, defeating China's top pair

South Korean table tennis stars Lim Jong-hoon and Shin Yu-bin have captured the World Table Tennis (WTT) Smash title in Los Angeles, defeating the formidable Chinese pair Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha in a thrilling mixed doubles final. The world's top-ranked duo secured the victory with a hard-fought 3-2 comeback win.

The match saw Lim and Shin, who earned a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, demonstrate resilience. After winning the first game, they dropped the next two, facing a deficit against the fifth-ranked Chinese team. However, they rallied in the fourth game to force a decisive fifth game.

In the final game, Lim and Shin took an early lead at 5-4 and extended their advantage, aided by a bit of luck and errors from their opponents. They ultimately clinched the championship point, securing their second title of the year. Earlier this year, they also won the WTT Star Contender Ljubljana.

This victory is particularly significant for Lim and Shin, as it marks their first-ever WTT Smash title, adding another prestigious achievement to their growing list of accomplishments in mixed doubles table tennis.