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Table tennis players from South Korea and North Korea pose for a photo in Doha, Qatar, Nov. 21.

Table tennis players from both Koreas, paired together in doubles teams for an international tournament in Doha, said they are looking forward to the rare opportunity of playing alongside each other. The players will compete in doubles teams at the inaugural Peace and Sport Cup tournament on Tuesday. In men’s doubles, South Korea’s Ryu Seung-min, a former Olympic champion, will pair with the North’s Kim Hyok-bong. On the women’s side, Kim Kyong-ah will represent the South and Kim Hye-song will play for the North.

The Koreas last formed a joint team at the 1991 World Table Tennis Championships in Chiba City, Japan, and won the gold medal in the women’s team event.

Organized by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and Monaco-based Peace and Sport Foundation, the tournament has brought together players from 10 nations that have historically been at odds with each other to unite in doubles teams. For instance, India and Pakistan are fielding joint doubles teams this week, as are the U.S. and Russia. China, Qatar, France and Japan are also participating in the Doha event.

(Yonhap News)