China maintained their total grip on Olympic table tennis stretching back to the 2000 Games on Wednesday as their men s team beat Japan to win gold in Rio on Wednesday.
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The current world No.1 Ma Long headed the Chinese men’s team with fellow Grand Slam victor and Rio’s silver medalist Zhang Jike, and the world No. 3 Xu Xin.
China’s Ma Long competes during the men’s table tennis team semifinal against South Korea at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on August 15, 2016.
Despite losing 3-1 to the two-time defending Olympic champions, Japan took home the silver for the men’s team’s first medal ever. Germany, who were knocked off by Japan in the semifinal, had previously dropped a line in each match against Chinese Taipei and Austria. After I lost the singles final, she also texted me to show encouragement.
Now, both the Chinese men and women’s teams have a chance to reclaim gold in the doubles competition and continue their complete dominance within the sport.
“It’s disappointing to be part of the team that didn’t win a medal”, Jeoung said. But Zhao managed to stay calm and scored a point to hold onto his lead until the end.
Japan ended their Asian rivals’ eight-year reign as Olympic men’s team champions last week even after China had come out of qualifying on top.
After securing two of Japan’s two points Ito said: “I am just happy to win the medal”.
Li Xiaoxia, Liu Shiwen and Ding Ning combined to win the women’s team table tennis gold on Tuesday to keep China on target for their third consecutive Games cleansweep of titles.
China took four gymnastics gold medals in London in 2012, when its women won gold and silver on the balance beam. Just another Olympics with gold medals finding their way back to China via the table tennis field.
Ma, 28, gave the Chinese side the first victory by blasting the 21-year-old Niwa in straight sets 11-6, 11-9, 11-6.
Once, twice, three times Mizutani responded, however, taking the game to deuce and then converting a match point of his own for a thrilling 10-12, 9-11, 11-3, 11-7, 10-12 victory. Make that 27 of a possible 31 gold medals, after the country trounced Germany, 3-0, in the women’s team event.
The Japanese women took team bronze over Singapore.
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It was surely the highest quality and most exciting table tennis moment of these Olympics.
