TOKYO: China won the Olympic women’s team table tennis gold medal on Thursday after a 3-0 victory over Japan in the final, continuing the country’s undefeated streak in the event.

The Chinese trio of Chen Meng, Sun Yingsha and Wang Manyu, who were all competing at their first Olympics, hoisted the national flag together with their coach Li Sun after clinching the title.

In the second match, Sun played Japan’s Mima Ito, who she beat in their singles semi-final last week.

The 20-year-old paddlers fought a heated battle but the Chinese triumphed 3-1.

World number four Wang crushed Miu Hirano 3-0 in the third match to secure victory for China, who have won all four women’s Olympic table tennis team events since it was introduced in 2008.

“To wear this gold medal again — this happiness feels different from before,” said Chen, who also claimed women’s singles gold at the Tokyo Games.

Published in Dawn, August 6th, 2021