Choi Hyo-joo

Chinese South Korean table tennis player (born 1998)
Choi Hyo-joo
NationalityChinese (before 2013)
South Korean (after 2013)
BornYao Yao
(1998-04-15) 15 April 1998 (age 26)
Jiangsu, China
Height155 cm (5 ft 1 in)[1]
Weight50 kg (110 lb)[1]
Table tennis career
Playing styleLeft-handed shakehand grip[2]
Highest ranking36 (February 2016)[3]
Current ranking69 (20 February 2024)[4]
Medal record
Women's table tennis
Representing  South Korea
World Cup
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Tokyo Team
Asian Games
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Jakarta Team
Asian Championships
Silver medal – second place 2021 Doha Team
Choi Hyo-joo
Hangul
최효주
Hanja
崔孝珠
Revised RomanizationChoe Hyo-ju
McCune–ReischauerCh'oe Hyochu
Yao Yao
Traditional Chinese姚堯
Simplified Chinese姚尧
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinYáo Yáo

Choi Hyo-joo (Korean: 최효주, born 15 April 1998) is a Chinese-born South Korean table tennis player.[5][6] Born in China as Yao Yao (Chinese: 姚尧), she became a naturalized South Korean citizen in November 2013.[7]

She represented South Korea at the team event in the 2020 Summer Olympics.[8]

Early life and move to Korea

A Jiangsu native, Choi (then known as Yao Yao) attended a table tennis school in Qingdao, Shandong at a young age.[9] In 2009, she finished 8th in the national cadet tournament, behind the likes of Chen Meng, Gu Yuting, Shao Jieni, and Zhu Yuling.[10] She was spotted by Choi Young-il, head coach of the Korean club Samsung Life, who persuaded her to go to South Korea and acquire Korean nationality. Several people helped out with her naturalization: the mother of Jeong Sang-eun, another Chinese-born South Korean player, and Coach Choi's older brother, a public employee, who volunteered to foster her.[11] Later, when she became a naturalized Korean, she adopted the surname Choi.

Achievements

ITTF Tours

Women's singles

Year Tournament Level Final opponent Score Rank
2015 Croatia Open Challenge Shan Xiaona 4–1[12] 1st place, gold medalist(s)

Women's doubles

Year Tournament Level Partner Final opponents Score Rank
2019 Korea Open World Tour Yang Ha-eun Chen Meng
Wang Manyu 		0–3[13] 2nd place, silver medalist(s)

References

  1. ^ a b "Choi Hyojoo". Olympic Council of Asia. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  2. ^ "Player profile - Choi Hyo-joo". International Table Tennis Federation. Retrieved 2019-10-26.
  3. ^ "ITTF World Ranking Profile - Choi Hyojoo". ITTF. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  4. ^ "ITTF Table Tennis World Ranking". ittf.com. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  5. ^ "최효주CHOI HYO JOO". kttl.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  6. ^ "日本ペイントマレッツ 崔孝珠（チェ ヒョジュ）選手契約更新のお知らせ". prtimes.jp (in Japanese). 21 June 2021. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  7. ^ "ITTF Eligibility Registration". ITTF. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  8. ^ "16-Year Old Shin Yubin Becomes Youngest Ever Korean Olympic Table Tennis Player - Edges and Nets". edgesandnets.com. 2021-02-04. Archived from the original on 2022-07-16. Retrieved 2021-02-21.
  9. ^ Kim Jihan (2018-08-26). "16세 때 한국 귀화, 최효주 키운 전설의 '쌍유'". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  10. ^ "关于2009年全国优秀青少年乒乓球调赛有关事宜的通知". Chinese Table Tennis Association (in Chinese). 12 August 2009.
  11. ^ Jeon Young-ji (4 July 2015). "최영일 삼성감독"'17세 탁구신성'최효주 1년내 톱10도 가능"". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  12. ^ "Croatian Open: Final Day". SD Sport. 24 May 2015. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  13. ^ "Day Three: Seamaster 2019 ITTF World Tour SHINHAN Korea Open". ITTF. 7 July 2019. Retrieved 16 February 2020.

External links