China is looking to win yet another table tennis gold medal, and Germany is another one of the worldwide powers when it comes to this sport.
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Finally, the other men’s team semifinal will take place at 6:30 PM ET when China takes on South Korea.
Overcoming a sudden injury midway through the third set which he lost 11-9, Zhang, who was declined a medical timeout by Lebanon umpire Imad Merheb, launched a late comeback with his trademark backhand play and fewer errors to win the last two 11-8, 11-4.
China coach Liu Guoliang echoed with Zhang, saying that Jeoung’s a strong enough paddler to make troubles for world leading players like Zhang and Ma.
“Jike was once in passive situation against Jeoung but he made an all-out effort and won the game through experience and stern mind”, he said.
“I’ll ask our medical staff to do some massage for my waist and fingers crossed for the best result”. After I lost the singles final, she also texted me to show encouragement. “So winning three out of five games against us will not be easy”, said China’s Li Xiaoxia, for whom the final will probably be her last game before retirement.
Feng Tianwei (0-3) and Zhou Yihan (1-3) were no match for their Chinese counterparts Li Xiaoxia and Ding Ning respectively in the first two singles match-ups, and Singapore were 0-2 down in little more than an hour.
While South Korea fought hard to match their opponents point for point in some sets during the Monday meeting, they eventually had to admit a 3-0 defeat to the Chinese team.
With two Grand Slam winners and the current world No. 1 Liu Shiwen in the team, China’ s head coach Kong Linghui, a Grand Slam victor himself 16 years ago, faced no dilemma in lining up his squad.
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China only conceded one set in the third and doubles game, as the pair of Liu and Ding surrendering the third set 11-9 to Solja and another German Chinese Shan Xiaona but came back on court with even firmer hands, wrapping it up 11-6, 11-5, 9-11, 11-7.
