Table tennis took center stage on the third matchday of the 19th Hangzhou Asian Games, delighting the home audience as both China’s men’s and women’s teams secured gold medals.
The finals of the men’s and women’s team events lived up to their highly anticipated status, delivering intense clashes at a world-class level. In the end, the Chinese men’s team clinched their eighth consecutive Asian Games gold medal, while the Chinese women’s team added their fifth to the collection.
In the women’s gold medal team match, the Chinese squad displayed dominance with a convincing 3-0 victory over Japan. Sun Yingsha, Chen Meng, and Wang Manyu formed the formidable Chinese lineup, facing off against Japan’s Hayata Hina, Hirano Miu, and Harimoto Miwa. Despite a fierce offensive from the Japanese team, the Chinese women’s team demonstrated their preparedness, winning crucial points and securing a well-deserved victory.
The Chinese women’s team had sailed through the preliminary rounds with three consecutive 3-0 victories against Macao SAR, Vietnam, and Thailand. However, the final against Japan presented a formidable challenge, earning the praise of the team members and their coach Ma Lin.
On the same evening, the enthusiastic home crowd witnessed China’s men’s team, featuring three world champions – Wang Chuqin, Fan Zhendong, and Ma Long, claiming the gold medal. Their victory was swift, lasting less than two hours, with the Chinese athletes maintaining an advantage in most moments of the match.
The electric atmosphere in the arena, filled with supportive Chinese fans, fueled the athletes’ performance. Ma Long, considered a table tennis legend, received resounding cheers as he secured his sixth gold medal in the Asian Games. After the match, Ma Long announced that this would be his final appearance at the Asian Games.
South Korea’s team secured second place, while Chinese Taipei and Iran both earned bronze medals, earning praise from the passionate Chinese audience.
As table tennis is a traditional strength of China, the Chinese teams now set their sights on the upcoming doubles, mixed doubles, and singles events, aiming to sweep all seven gold medals on offer. The dominance of Chinese table tennis continues to captivate fans worldwide, and the teams remain determined to uphold their legacy of excellence.
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