19-year-old Shin Yubin is looking forward to defending her WTT Contender Lagos title when the 2024 edition serves off at the Sir Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall on June 19.
The three-time WTT Contender champion was the only player that halted the Chinese dominance in Lagos last year when she beat Chinese star Li Yake 4-2 in the women’s singles final while her partnership with compatriot – Jeon Jihee ensured she left Nigeria with two titles in 2023 after defeating Chinese duo of Liu Weishan and Fan Siqi 3-1 in the women’s doubles finals.
The world number 7 admitted that she enjoyed her stay in Lagos and she is hoping to have such an experience again this year.
“I’m happy to be in Nigeria. People are very happy and dancing, and people support table tennis in Nigeria. I played very well in Nigeria,” the Korean star said.
At age 17, Yubin was named in the South Korean Olympic team for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, making her the youngest-ever Korean Olympic table tennis player.
In Lagos this year, Yubin will have to fend off competition from top players from India, Nigeria, and a host of others if she hopes to retain her title in Lagos.
Meanwhile, organisers of the first WTT series in Sub-Saharan Africa have promised to stage another colourful tournament with the quality of players coming to Lagos later this month for the $80,000 prize money tournament.
