South Korea seize table tennis bronze

8220;We are really, really happy because this is the first team match and we got the bronze medal. I thank very much my teammates and the coaching staff,8221; he said. 8220;I will do my best in the singles matches,8221; he added.

South Korea8217;s Oh Sang-Eun dashed Austria8217;s hopes in the first game, downing Schlager 3-1.

But Robert Gardos came out firing in the second match, taking the first two sets against Ryu before the South Korean clawed one back, only for the Austrian to clinch the fourth.

With the encounter locked at 1-1, Yoon Jae-Young and Oh produced a scorching display of table tennis in the doubles, to whitewash the Austrian duo Gardos and Chen Weixing.

Ryu returned to the tables against Chen, and this time redeemed himself, downing the Austrians 3-0 and hand the South Koreans bronze.

8220;I didn8217;t play at my peak level but this is human you know,8221; Schlager said.

8220;We are fourth and this is the best result for the Austrian team so far, and I think we can be proud of that,8221; he said.

China8217;s takes on Germany for the gold later on Monday.

Men8217;s and women8217;s team competition was held for the first time in Beijing since table tennis was introduced at the 1988 Seoul Games, replacing doubles.