The defending Olympic champion in the Men's Singles, Ryu Seung Min took the table tennis world by surprise with his inspired play during the 2004 Athens Olympics. With a repertoire of many difficult to return serves, lightning footwork and a fearsome forehand Korean penhold attack, Ryu crashed through the defences of all his opponents to record the Republic of Korea's second Men's Singles Gold Medal - Yoo Nam Kyu won the first in Seoul in 1988.
Ryu has not quite recaptured his form of 2004, but he would dearly love to repeat his success in Beijing and win another gold medal for South Korea.
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