Chengdu, Sichuan Province – The Chinese mainland table tennis team continued their dominant performance at the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Mixed Team World Cup, securing their eighth consecutive victory by defeating France 8-0 on Saturday.
The hosts showcased their formidable strength with the ace pairing of Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha in the mixed doubles match. Facing France’s Audrey Zarif and Esteban Dorr, Wang and Sun delivered a commanding performance, winning in straight games 11-6, 11-8, 11-3, giving the Chinese mainland a strong 3-0 lead.
Women’s world No. 2 Wang Manyu further extended the advantage in the women’s singles, effortlessly overcoming Camille Lutz with scores of 11-6, 11-2, 11-6. The momentum continued as Lin Shidong took on Thibault Poret in the men’s singles. Lin clinched the first game 11-6 and, despite facing resistance in the second, secured the match point at 10-8, contributing to the hosts’ unbroken winning streak.
The victory over France followed a decisive 8-2 win against Japan just a day earlier, marking the Chinese mainland’s seventh straight triumph in the tournament. In that encounter, Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha once again paired up for the mixed doubles, overcoming Japan’s Ryuusei Kawakami and Rin Mende with scores of 11-5, 11-3, before dropping the third game 9-11 but maintaining a lead of 2-1.
Wang Manyu demonstrated her prowess in the women’s singles against Kaho Akae, dominating the match with swift victories of 11-7, 11-5, 11-5 and extending the lead to 5-1. Lin Shidong faced Yuta Tanaka in a challenging men’s singles match. After securing the first game 11-5, Lin encountered fierce opposition, trailing 8-10 in the second game. Exhibiting resilience, he saved two game points to win 12-10.
Despite being down 0-2, Tanaka displayed impressive tenacity, claiming the third game 11-6 and pushing the contest further. However, the pairing of Sun Yingsha and Wang Yidi in the subsequent doubles match against Kaho Akae and Asuka Sasao secured an 11-6 victory, sealing the overall win for the hosts at 8-2.
The Chinese mainland’s consistent excellence at the ITTF Mixed Team World Cup highlights their position as a powerhouse in the sport, exciting fans and reinforcing their reputation on the global stage.
Reference(s):
China beat France for 8th straight win at ITTF Mixed Team World Cup
cgtn.com
