China thrash Japan to seal third table tennis World Cup title, historic bronze for Germany
China cruise to ITTF Mixed Team World Cup crown completing hat-trick of victories, while Germany become first European side to reach podium
China thrashed Japan 8-1 to complete a hat-trick of International Table Tennis Federation Mixed Team World Cup victories in front of a raucous home crowd on Sunday.
China and Japan had set up the winner-takes-all clash in Chengdu after having beaten South Korea and Germany, respectively, in the semi-finals earlier in the day.
In the best-of-15 battle, Chinese pair Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha swept past Sora Matsushima and Satsuki Odo in the mixed doubles, winning 11-4, 11-4, 11-6.
Wang Manyu then cruised past Miwa Harimoto 11-6, 11-7, 11-6 in the women’s singles to help China extend the lead to 6-0.
Lin Shidong was the only Chinese player to lose a game, coming from behind to beat Tomokazu Harimoto 6-11, 11-5, 11-6 in the men’s singles to seal the team victory.
“I felt excited today,” Wang Chuqin said. “Especially in the final, our team was in good form with an outstanding performance. In every team event, I think all of us could feel the power of China.”