PARIS (TVBS News) — Kao Cheng-jui (高承睿), a 19-year-old Taiwanese table tennis player, triumphed over Romania's Ionescu Eduard in the Men's Singles event on Tuesday (July 30), advancing to the round of 16 in his first Olympic appearance. Kao defeated Ionescu 4-1, marking a significant milestone in his career.
Representing Taiwan in the Men's Singles at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, Kao and the more experienced, Lin Yun-ju (林昀儒) aim to showcase their talents on the global stage. Despite being slightly lesser-known than Lin and his mentor, Chuang Chih-yuan (莊智淵), Kao has steadily improved under Chuang's guidance, achieving increasingly impressive results.
During a media day at the National Sports Training Center (國家運動訓練中心) in June, Kao expressed his gratitude for Chuang's mentorship. " Having him here for my first Olympics is reassuring," Kao said, acknowledging there's still room for adjustment regarding his mindset.
Kao also highlighted the invaluable lessons learned from Chuang, stating that the spirit and professionalism he embodies are worth knowing.
Looking ahead, Kao eagerly anticipates a potential match against Chinese table tennis legend Ma Long (馬龍), noting that both Ma and Chuang are legendary figures in the table tennis world.
