Defending champion Ryu crashes out early

South Korea's Ryu Seung-min, defending Olympic table tennis champion, was knocked out of men's singles yesterday in the round of 32 to cap a lacklustre showing in Beijing. Ryu was slow off the mark against the relentless attack from Hong Kong's Ko Lai...

South Korea's Ryu Seung-min, defending Olympic table tennis champion, was knocked out of men's singles yesterday in the round of 32 to cap a lacklustre showing in Beijing.

Ryu was slow off the mark against the relentless attack from Hong Kong's Ko Lai Chak, world number 32, dropping the first three games. Ko won the match 11-7 11-8 11- 6 4-11 5-11 and 12-10.

"I was so keen to win. I feel very regretful about losing the first three games so easily," Ryu said.

Ryu had dropped five of his eight singles matches in the team event, though his countrymen compensated for his struggles to lift South Korea to a bronze.

"Even though there has not been a great deal of pressure on me, I have met many strong players in this tournament," Ryu said.

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