Why Jung Young-sik, a 'herbivore' in table tennis, boxes: 'Momentum, grit, and confidence are born.' [Lee Heon-jae's Home Run]

Jung Young-sik, former professional table tennis player and current coach for Sae Ah Table Tennis Club, describes himself as a 'herbivore' during his playing days. He felt like a rabbit, constantly striving not to be preyed upon by 'carnivores' like lions and tigers. His gentle appearance, with large, expressive eyes, reinforced this image.

Despite his self-perception, Jung came close to overcoming a 'carnivore' on the world stage. At the 2016 Rio Olympics, he faced off against China's Ma Long, the then-undisputed world number one in men's singles table tennis. Jung surprised everyone by winning the first two sets, putting Ma Long under immense pressure and visibly unnerving the Chinese team's coach.

However, his momentum eventually waned. Jung recalls leading in a subsequent set at 9-4, only for the game to go into a deuce. While he didn't defeat Ma Long that day, the experience was a significant moment in his career. Now, as a coach, Jung has taken up boxing, finding that the sport cultivates a crucial sense of momentum, grit, and confidence, qualities that likely served him well on the table tennis court.

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Momentum, grit, and confidence are born.