"Ilwoo Cup Table Tennis Tournament Held in Memory of Chairman Cho Yangho, Who Elevated Korea's Table Tennis Status"

Over 500 Aspiring Youth Table Tennis Players Participate Enthusiastically

Hanjin Group announced that the "Ilwoo Cup National Table Tennis Tournament," named after the pen name of the late Cho Yangho, former chairman of Hanjin Group, was held at Incheon Gyeyang Gymnasium from September 27 to 28.

In 2014, at the 17th Incheon Asian Games table tennis venue, the late Cho Yangho, former chairman of Hanjin Group (left), is seen talking with Yoo Namgyu, the head coach of the men's table tennis team at the time, and coach Yoo Seungmin. Hanjin Group

The "Ilwoo Cup National Table Tennis Tournament" is part of a memorial project for the late chairman Cho, who passed away in 2019. The event was established to honor his dedication and love for Korean table tennis, as well as to foster youth table tennis players and promote the sport.

Launched in 2022, the tournament marks its fourth edition this year. This year's event saw the enthusiastic participation of over 500 aspiring youth table tennis players.

After being appointed president of the Korea Table Tennis Association in July 2008, the late chairman Cho devoted himself to the development of Korean table tennis. Through institutional reforms such as nurturing and supporting players, as well as training referees and coaches, he helped usher in a turning point for Korean table tennis, which had declined in popularity since the 1990s. Driven by his passion for the sport, he supported the lives of those involved in table tennis and worked to improve the overall environment for the sport.

Since 2009, he served as vice president of the Asian Table Tennis Union, significantly elevating the global standing of Korean table tennis beyond the borders of Korea. In addition, as an ambassador for the international sports organization "Peace and Sport," he worked to make table tennis a messenger of peace. This effort culminated in the formation of a unified inter-Korean table tennis team for the first time in 20 years at the Peace and Sport Cup held in Doha, Qatar in 2011. The World Table Tennis Championships held in Busan in February 2024 also stand as one of his representative legacies.

On the 27th, at the Ilwoo Cup National Table Tennis Tournament held at Incheon Gyeyang Gymnasium, Cho Won-tae, Chairman of Hanjin Group, Cho Hyun-min, President of Hanjin Co., Ltd., and other Hanjin Group officials, along with Lee Seung-min, President of the Korean Sports Council, are taking a commemorative photo. Hanjin Group

Hanjin Group and the Korea Table Tennis Association plan to continue developing the Ilwoo Cup National Table Tennis Tournament as a leading table tennis festival in Korea, contributing to unity among the table tennis community in line with the late chairman’s noble intentions.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.