In a stunning turn of events at the Asian Table Tennis Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, Japan’s women’s team defeated defending champions China 3-1 on Wednesday.
The match kicked off with a thrilling contest between world number four Wang Yidi of China and Japan’s rising star, Miwa Harimoto. Wang claimed the opening game 11-7, but Harimoto, displaying remarkable resilience, fought back to split the first four games evenly. In the decisive fifth game, Wang held a 9-8 lead, but Harimoto rallied to win the next three points, securing an 11-9 victory and giving Japan an early 1-0 advantage.
China’s world number one, Sun Yingsha, took to the table against Japan’s Mima Ito in the second match. Demonstrating her dominance, Sun swept to a 2-0 lead and closed out the third game 11-5, leveling the overall score at 1-1.
The momentum swung back to Japan in the third match as Miu Hirano faced China’s Chen Xingtong. Hirano delivered a strong performance, defeating Chen 3-1 and putting Japan ahead 2-1.
In a dramatic fourth match, Sun Yingsha once again stepped up for China, this time against Miwa Harimoto. Sun secured the first two games 11-9 and 11-6, appearing poised to force a deciding fifth match. However, the 16-year-old Harimoto mounted an incredible comeback, winning the next three games and clinching the match 3-2. Her victory sealed Japan’s triumph over China, allowing them to lift the championship trophy.
This remarkable win marks a significant achievement for the Japanese team, breaking China’s longstanding dominance in women’s table tennis and showcasing the rising talent within Japan’s ranks.
Reference(s):
Japan stun China 3-1 to win women's team title at Asian Championships
cgtn.com
