After his defeat, a table tennis player was killed in an accident.
In the absence of significant pressure, how can lofty standards and unwavering focus be maintained? It was a burning question on the minds of Chinese table tennis fans as they basked in the glory of a seven-game winning streak, and it was a puzzle that their coaching staff, who are quickly ascending to untouchable status, needed to solve.
The solution lay in remaining calm in the face of shocking defeats suffered by their most consistent big names, and orchestrating a stunning comeback. China defied their shaky start in a nail-biting semifinal clash at the inaugural International Table Tennis Federation Mixed Team World Cup in Chengdu on Saturday night, securing a hard-fought 8-5 victory and propelling them ever closer to their ultimate goal of claiming the prestigious title on home soil.
Once again, China found themselves at the center of a tantalizing blockbuster. Fresh off their 8-1 dismantling of second-seeded Germany just a day prior, it’s tempting to wonder if the hosts possessed the mental and physical fortitude to deliver another stellar performance.
Well, as fate would have it, China were inevitably caught off guard when their mixed doubles world No. 1 duo Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha were stunned by the unexpected brilliance of Miwa Harimoto and Shunsuke Togami in the opening match.
While Wang/Sun swiftly took the first game with an 11-5 triumph, their crafty opponents wasted no time in making tactical adjustments. In the subsequent two games, the Japanese pair exhibited exceptional finesse in handling critical points, clinching victories with scores of 13-11 and 11-9, respectively. Their remarkable display of skill allowed them to ultimately reverse the tide with a final scoreline of 2-1. This marked the first defeat for Wang/Sun in the tournament.
The crowd grew increasingly restless and a palpable sense of anxiety started to permeate the atmosphere. However, it was at this crucial moment that Wang Manyu stepped up to the plate. In the second match, she displayed admirable composure under immense pressure in the women’s singles, stringing together three consecutive wins with scores of 11-6, 11-9 and 11-5 against Hina Hayata. Her marvelous display helped China stage a remarkable turnaround, taking a 4-2 lead.
However, in the third match, Fan Zhendong’s form uncharacteristically faltered against Tomokazu Harimoto as he suffered consecutive defeats 11-3 and 11-6 in the men’s singles. Although the top-ranked Chinese veteran showed signs of a resurgence in the third game, managing to claim a 11-7 win, he ultimately fell short 1-2, narrowing the gap between China and Japan to 5-4.
In the fourth match, Wang Manyu once again proved to be the team’s savior. Partnering with Chen Meng in the women’s doubles, they initially faced a setback, losing a tightly contested game with a score of 10-12. However, they quickly regrouped and went on to win the next two games 11-3 and 13-11. This morale-boosting victory gave China a commanding 7-5 lead.
When it came down to the crucial decider, it was the indomitable pairing of Ma Long and Wang Chuqin who rose to the occasion. With relentless precision, they delivered a masterclass, securing a dominant 11-5 victory over Togami and Kakeru Sone in the men’s doubles.
China’s next challenge will be an eagerly anticipated final showdown against South Korea, who secured their place in the race for gold with a 8-6 victory over Germany.
The South Korean mixed doubles pairing of Jang Woo-jin and Jeon Ji-hee flaunted their supremacy by swatting aside Sabine Winter and Cedric Messiner, giving their team a flying start with a 3-0 lead. Later on, in the men’s doubles, Lim Jong-hoon and An Jae-hyun combined forces to claim three crucial games, setting the stage for their team’s well-deserved triumph.
As both China and South Korea have maintained unblemished winning records thus far, the forthcoming final is poised to be a captivating spectacle, keeping spectators on the edge of their seats. Once again.
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