S. Korea exceeds target with 6th gold medal at Paris Paralympics

South Korea has captured its sixth gold medal of the Paris Paralympics to exceed its target on the penultimate day of the competition. Kim Young-gun defeated Wanchai Chaiwut of Thailand 3-2 (6-11, 11-9, 11-7, 9-11, 11-5) to win the men's singles (MS4 classification) gold medal at South Paris Arena 4 on Saturday. South Korea had set its sights on winning five gold medals in Paris, and Kim delivered gold medal No. 6 with his victory. Kim Young-gun of South Korea celebrates his win over Wanchai Chaiwut of Thailand in the final of the men's singles (MS4 classification) table tennis event at the Paris Paralympics at South Paris Arena 4 in Paris on Sept. 7, 2024. (Pool photo) (Yonhap) Kim Young-gun of South Korea celebrates his win over Wanchai Chaiwut of Thailand in the final of the men's singles (MS4 classification) table tennis event at the Paris Paralympics at South Paris Arena 4 in Paris on Sept. 7, 2024. (Pool photo) (Yonhap) This was Kim's fifth career Paralympic gold, putting him in a tie for second o n the all-time South Korean list. In the same event, Kim Jung-gil got a bronze medal after losing to Chaiwut in the semifinals. There is no bronze medal match in para table tennis, with all semifinal losers receiving a bronze medal. With six gold medals, 10 silver medals and 14 bronze medals overall, South Korea is in 20th place in the medal table with one more day of competition remaining. In para table tennis, Class 4 is for athletes in a wheelchair with fair sitting balance and fully functional arms and hands, but they may have a lower spinal cord lesion or cerebral palsy. Also on Saturday, South Korean wheelchair basketball player Won Yoo-min was elected to the International Paralympic Committee's Athletes' Council. By earning 296 votes, Won became one of six new members to join the council. He finished fourth among 25 candidates in voting. Won will serve a four-year term, representing the interests of Paralympic athletes and providing feedback to the IPC. Source: Yonhap News Agency