South Korea's Kim Kyung Min will defend his title at the 29th Golden Racket tournament that will be held from July 23 to 26. — Photo thethaohcm.vn

HA NOI — A large South Korean team will defend their title at the 29th Golden Racket international table tennis tournament that will be held in HCM City from July 23 to 26.

The South Korean team won last year's event with two gold, two silver and two bronze medals. China's Hong Kong came second with two gold medals and one bronze medal.

This year, South Korea will send 18 players, including two men's and two women's teams, to the event, which will be held at Nguyen Du Gymnasium. About 107 players from eight countries and territories such as Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and Japan, besides Hong Kong will compete in the men's and women's singles and team events.

Kim Kyung Min, who took the men's singles gold medal at the 28th Golden Racket tournament, Lee Jun Sang (silver medallist), Kim Gang Woog (bronze medallist) and female player Park Cha Ra will be tough rivals for the other teams.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong will send young players such as world No 136 Zhu Cheng Zhu and world No 199 Lam Yee Lok. At last year's event, Hong Kong won the women's singles and team titles.

Japan are likely to be an unknown force at this year's tournament. They often send players in the 16-18 age group, but their rivals respect them because of their playing speed and skills.

India will also send their best players to HCM City, such as strong male player and world No 174 Gnanasekkaran Sathiyan, and two female players, world No 142 and India's number one Battra Manika and Das Mouma, world No 175 and India's number two.

Malaysia have named SEA Games silver medallist Lee Wei in their line-up, while Singapore will send world No 62 Zeng Jian for the women's singles event.

Hosts Viet Nam will send the three teams of Viet Nam, Petrosetco HCM City and HCM City.

Mai Hoang My Trang of Petrosetco HCM City is expected to shine at the Golden Racket tournament this year. — Photo thethaohcm.vn

Viet Nam's Tran Tuan Quynh, Dinh Quang Linh, Le Tien Dat and Nguyen Anh Tu won the silver medal in the men's team event at the Singapore's SEA Games. They are expected to rank among the top three in this year's Golden Racket tournament.

Fans nationwide also await Petrosetco HCM City's girls, who are the best female players of Viet Nam at present, including SEA Games bronze medallist Mai Hoang My Trang. She finished in third place at last year's Golden Racket women's singles event. — VNS