Joo Sae-hyuk

{{Infobox table tennis player

| name= Joo Sae-hyuk

| image= ITTF World Tour 2017 German Open Joo Sae-Hyuk 01.jpg

| imagesize=

| caption = ITTF World Tour 2017 German Open, Magdeburg, Germany, 7 Nov 2017 – 12 Nov 2017, Joo Sae-hyuk

| equipment = Blade: Butterfly Joo Saehyuk Forehand: Tenergy 64 RED Backhand: TSP curl p1r

| nationality = {{KOR}}

| hrank = 5 (March 2012){{cite web |url=http://www.ittf.com/ittf_ranking/world_ranking_per_name.asp?Siniors=1&Player_ID=104212 |title=World ranking Record for JOO Saehyuk (KOR) |work=ittf.com |access-date=March 2, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120814050822/http://www.ittf.com/ittf_ranking/world_ranking_per_name.asp?Siniors=1&Player_ID=104212 |archive-date=August 14, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}

| crank = 13 (February 2017)

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|1|20|df=y}}

| birth_place = Seoul, South Korea

| height = 1.80 m

| weight = 68 kg

| medaltemplates=

}}

Joo Sae-hyuk ({{Korean|주세혁}}, {{IPA|ko|tɕu.se̞.ɦjʌk̚}}; born 20 January 1980) is a South Korean table tennis player. As a singles player, he was a silver medalist at the 2003 World Table Tennis Championships, a bronze medalist at the 2011 Table Tennis World Cup, and a bronze medalist at the 2010 and 2014 Asian Games.{{cite web |url=http://www.ittf.com/ittf_stats/All_events3.asp?ID=3308 |title=JOO Saehyuk (KOR) |work=ittf.com |access-date=June 5, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100819063421/http://www.ittf.com/ittf_stats/All_events3.asp?ID=3308 |archive-date=August 19, 2010 |df=mdy-all }} In the team event, as a member of the South Korean National Team, he was a silver medalist in the 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014 Asian Games; the 2006 and 2008 World Championships; and the 2012 Summer Olympics.{{Cite web|url = http://www.olympic.org/olympic-results/london-2012/table-tennis/team-m|title = London 2012 - Table Tennis - Men's Team|access-date = 30 November 2014|website = www.olympic.org|publisher = IOC}}

History

Joo Sae-hyuk was born in Seoul, South Korea on January 20, 1980.{{cite web|url=http://www.euroasia-ettu.com/player_detail2.php?s=10&id_p=7|title=JOO Saehyuk (KOR)|publisher=euroasia-ettu.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710204752/http://www.euroasia-ettu.com/player_detail2.php?s=10&id_p=7|archive-date=July 10, 2011|url-status=dead|access-date=October 10, 2010|df=mdy-all}} He stands 180 cm tall, and weighs 68 kg.{{cite web|url=http://www.ittf.com/biography/biography_web_details.asp?Player_ID=104212|title=JOO Saehyuk|work=ittf.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017021042/http://www.ittf.com/biography/biography_web_details.asp?Player_ID=104212|archive-date=October 17, 2012|url-status=dead|access-date=June 5, 2011|df=mdy-all}} He first started competing when he was 8 years old. He joined the national team in 2001, and fans began taking an interest in him for his dynamic defensive style.

Between April and May 2012, Joo Sae-hyuk was diagnosed with Behçet's disease, Although Behcet's disease is known to be incurable, it appears that Joo Sae-hyuk is still performing well. On the medical side, Joo Sae-hyuk relies on glucocorticoids to manage his disease.

Style of Play

Joo Sae-hyuk has helped revive the popularity of the defensive style at the professional level.{{cite web|url=http://ooakforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=56&t=22125|access-date=22 March 2015|title=OOAK Interview with Joo SaeHyuk - Exclusive! - OOAK Table Tennis Forum}} He is one of the few top-ranked players in the world (position 5 in 2012)[http://ittf.com/ittf_ranking/WR_per_name.asp?Player_ID=104212 World ranking Record for JOO Saehyuk (KOR)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414101511/http://ittf.com/ittf_ranking/WR_per_name.asp?Player_ID=104212 |date=April 14, 2016 }} to play a primarily defensive style, repeatedly returning the ball with heavy backspin on both wings.{{cite web|url=http://www.tabletennismaster.com/player/joo-se-hyuk|access-date=22 March 2015|title=Joo Se Hyuk - Table Tennis Master|archive-date=September 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921073618/http://www.tabletennismaster.com/player/joo-se-hyuk|url-status=dead}} This has led many to dub him the best defensive player of all time. At the same time, he has a powerful topspin forehand that he uses to counterattack when the opportunity may arise. As with many defenders, his long rallies and entertaining style of play have made him a fan favourite. He is one of several foreign players in recent years to challenge China's dominance over the sport. Despite his age, he is still going strong on the tour.

Rankings

Since June 2003, the International Table Tennis Federation has consistently ranked Joo Sae-hyuk as one of the 40 best table tennis players in the world after he defeated Ma Lin. Since July 2006, he has been consistently ranked in the ITTF's top 20. His peak rating was at #5, in March 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.ittf.com/ittf_ranking/WR_Table_3_A2_Details.asp?ID=25053364&s_Player_Name=&|access-date=22 March 2015}}