Choi Hyo-joo

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]

Choi Hyo-joo
Nationality	Chinese (before 2013) South Korean (after 2013)
Born	Yao Yao (1998-04-15) 15 April 1998 (age 26) Jiangsu, China
Height	155 cm (5 ft 1 in)[1]
Weight	50 kg (110 lb)[1]
Table tennis career
Playing style	Left-handed shakehand grip[2]
Highest ranking	36 (February 2016)[3]
Current ranking	69 (20 February 2024)[4]
Medal record Women's table tennis Representing  South Korea World Cup 2019 Tokyo Team Asian Games 2018 Jakarta Team Asian Championships 2021 Doha Team

Choi Hyo-joo
Hangul	최효주
Hanja	崔孝珠
Revised Romanization	Choe Hyo-ju
McCune–Reischauer	Ch'oe Hyochu

Yao Yao
Traditional Chinese	姚堯
Simplified Chinese	姚尧
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Yáo Yáo

In this Korean name, the family name is Choi.

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]

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]

References

1. "Choi Hyojoo". Olympic Council of Asia. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
2. "Player profile - Choi Hyo-joo". International Table Tennis Federation. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
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. 4 February 2021. Archived from the original on 16 July 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
9. Kim Jihan (26 August 2018). "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

• Choi Hyo-joo at World Table Tennis
• Choi Hyo-joo at Olympedia (archive)
• Choi Hyo-joo at Olympics.com