1. Overview
Ri Song-suk (리성숙Li Song-sukKorean, 李成淑Li Song-sukChinese) is a former international table tennis player from North Korea. She achieved significant success at the World Table Tennis Championships during the late 1970s and early 1980s, securing multiple medals across various events. Her career highlights include a silver medal in women's singles and a bronze medal in women's doubles at the 1979 World Table Tennis Championships held in Pyongyang, North Korea, alongside four team medals from 1977 to 1983.
2. Table Tennis Career
Ri Song-suk's professional table tennis career was primarily highlighted by her significant accomplishments at the World Table Tennis Championships, where she consistently earned medals in both individual and team events.
2.1. World Championships Achievements
Ri Song-suk's most significant achievements came at the World Table Tennis Championships, where she earned a total of six medals between 1977 and 1983.
Her medal haul includes:
- A silver medal in the women's singles at the 1979 World Table Tennis Championships held in Pyongyang.
- A bronze medal in the women's doubles at the same 1979 Championships, where she partnered with Ro Jong-suk.
- Four team medals across different championships:
- A bronze medal in the team event at the 1977 World Table Tennis Championships in Birmingham, England.
- A silver medal in the team event at the 1979 World Table Tennis Championships in Pyongyang.
- A bronze medal in the team event at the 1981 World Table Tennis Championships in Novi Sad, Yugoslavia.
- A bronze medal in the team event at the 1983 World Table Tennis Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
The following table summarizes her medal achievements at the World Table Tennis Championships:
Year Location Event Medal 1977 Birmingham Team Bronze 1979 Pyongyang Singles Silver 1979 Pyongyang Doubles (with Ro Jong-suk) Bronze 1979 Pyongyang Team Silver 1981 Novi Sad Team Bronze 1983 Tokyo Team Bronze
3. Assessment and Legacy
Ri Song-suk's contributions are significant in the history of North Korean table tennis. Her consistent medal-winning performances at the World Table Tennis Championships, particularly her individual silver in singles and the multiple team medals, highlight her as one of the prominent figures in North Korean sports during her active years. Her achievements not only brought international recognition to North Korea in the sport but also served as an inspiration for future generations of table tennis players within the country. Her legacy is primarily defined by her strong presence on the global stage, demonstrating the competitive prowess of North Korean athletes in table tennis during that era.
4. External links
- [http://www.ittf.com/ittf_stats/All_events3.asp?ID=4185 International Table Tennis Federation records]