South Korea's Mun Hye-gyeong struck gold in the women's singles event in soft tennis at the Asian Games on Saturday, bringing the country its first soft tennis title in China.
Mun defeated Noa Takahashi of Japan 4-0 (4-2, 4-2, 4-0, 4-0) at Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Tennis Centre in Hangzhou.
Before Mun's breakthrough, South Korea previously won bronze medals in the men's and women's team events, mixed doubles and men's singles.
South Korean soft tennis player Mun Hye-gyeong poses for a photo after winning the women's singles gold medal at the Asian Games at Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Tennis Centre in Hangzhou, China, on Oct. 7, 2023. (Yonhap)
In soft tennis, the first player to claim four games is the match winner, with each game requiring four points for a win.
Mun barely broke a sweat against Takahashi, needing just 13 minutes to win her required four games.
Mun had earlier won bronze medals in the women's team and the mixed doubles events in Hangzhou. The 26-year-old is the first South Korean women's singles champion in soft tennis since 2014.
Soft tennis joined the Asian Games in 1994, and Mun's lone gold represents South Korea's lowest gold medal total at a single Asiad.
South Korean soft tennis player Mun Hye-gyeong celebrates after winning the gold medal in the women's singles at the Asian Games at Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Tennis Centre in Hangzhou, China, on Oct. 7, 2023, in this photo provided by the Korea Soft Tennis Association. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Mun, who won two silver medals in 2018, said she felt the pressure of having to deliver South Korea its first soft tennis gold on the last day of competition.
"I am still a bit numb now," Mun said. "Five years ago, I remember crying so much because I came so close to winning gold medals. I thought I'd cry some tears of joy if I ever win a gold medal here, but it hasn't hit me yet."
Takahashi came into the singles final looking for her third gold in Hangzhou, after winning the mixed doubles and the women's titles. In 2018, Takahashi gobbled up gold medals in the women's singles and the women's team events.
As for her easier-than-expected win, Mun said, "She's really good at serves and so I had to be sharp with my returns. And I could also see she was running on fumes."
Mun, who comes from a soft tennis-playing family, said this was her final Asian Games match.
"I've been fortunate to have competed at two editions of the Asian Games, and I have no regrets," she said. "I will now get ready for the world championships next year and finish my career on a strong note."
South Korean soft tennis player Mun Hye-gyeong celebrates after winning the gold medal in the women's singles at the Asian Games at Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Tennis Centre in Hangzhou, China, on Oct. 7, 2023, in this photo provided by the Korea Soft Tennis Association. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Earlier Saturday, Yoon Hyoung-wook of South Korea lost to Chang Yu Sung of Chinese Taipei in a seven-game battle in the men's singles semifinals. South Korea's winning streak in the men's singles was snapped at three.
South Korea swept up all seven soft tennis titles in 2014, and won two out of five gold medals at state in 2018.
This Oct. 5, 2023, photo shows South Korean soft tennis player Mun Hye-gyeong during the Asian Games at Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Tennis Centre in Hangzhou, China. (Yonhap)
Source: Yonhap News Agency