China showcased its table tennis dominance by defeating South Korea 8-1 in the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Mixed Team World Cup final on Sunday in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. The victory allows China to retain the championship title on home soil.
The final commenced with the mixed doubles match featuring China’s star duo Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha against South Korea’s Cho Dae-seong and Shin Yu-bin. Both pairs displayed exceptional skill and determination, setting an intense tone for the final. Wang and Sun secured the first game 11-9 in a closely contested battle. However, Cho and Shin responded fiercely, edging out a 19-17 win in a dramatic second game to level the match.
Regaining momentum, Wang and Sun dominated the third game with aggressive play, disrupting their opponents’ rhythm and clinching the game 11-4. Their victory gave China an early advantage in the gold medal contest.
In the women’s singles, China’s Wang Manyu faced Kim Na-yeong of South Korea. Wang, currently ranked world No. 2, demonstrated her prowess by overpowering Kim with scores of 11-3, 11-7, and 11-2. Wang’s commanding performance extended China’s lead to 5-1. Notably, Wang has not lost a single game in all seven singles matches she played during the World Cup.
The men’s singles match saw China’s Lin Shidong compete against Oh Jun-sung. Lin overcame an early deficit to win the first game 11-6 and continued his strong performance to take the second game 11-4. With China just one game away from victory, Oh fought valiantly in the third game, starting with a 3-0 lead. Lin, however, remained composed, leveling the score and ultimately pulling ahead. With a series of decisive points, Lin secured the game and match, sealing China’s successful defense of their championship title.
China’s resounding victory underscores its continued excellence in table tennis on the international stage, delighting fans and reaffirming its status as a powerhouse in the sport.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
