China's men's table tennis team clinched their 24th title at the Asian Table Tennis Championships on Thursday, defeating Chinese Taipei 3-1 in a thrilling final held in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Wang Chuqin set the tone for China, facing off against Kao Cheng-Jui in the opening match. The first game was tightly contested, with both players trading points and finding themselves level at 5-5 and later at 8-8. Demonstrating composure under pressure, Wang edged ahead to secure the game 11-9.
The World No. 1 maintained his momentum, capitalizing on aggressive play to take the second game 11-5. He sealed his victory by dominating the third game 11-6, giving China an early lead.
In the second match, Lin Shidong faced a challenging opponent in Lin Yun-Ju. Lin Shidong claimed the first two games with identical scores of 11-7, but Lin Yun-Ju fought back to win the third game 11-8.
The fourth game saw Lin Yun-Ju start strong with a 3-0 run. However, Lin Shidong rallied to tie at 5-5 and later surged ahead to a 10-8 lead. He closed out the game 12-10, extending China's overall lead to 2-0.
Liang Jingkun stepped up next for China against Huang Yan-Cheng. Liang took the first game 11-7 after an initial 6-0 lead. Huang responded by winning the second game 11-7, leveling the match.
Although Liang regained the lead with a swift 11-1 victory in the third game, Huang displayed resilience, claiming the fourth and fifth games 11-9 and 13-11 respectively, keeping Chinese Taipei's hopes alive.
The decisive fourth match featured Wang Chuqin against Lin Yun-Ju. Wang faced a tough start, dropping the first two games 11-1 and 11-8. Undeterred, he mounted a comeback, winning the third game 11-8 and edging out a tense fourth game 12-10.
In the final game, Wang unleashed an unstoppable performance, beginning with a 7-0 lead and ultimately securing the game 11-4. His victory sealed the championship for China, marking their continued dominance in Asian table tennis.
China's triumph at the Asian Table Tennis Championships reinforces their position as a powerhouse in the sport. The team's exceptional skill and determination were on full display, promising exciting prospects for future international competitions.
Reference(s):
China's men defeat Chinese Taipei at Asian Table Tennis Championships
cgtn.com
