China's Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha retained their mixed doubles title at the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Championships Finals in Durban, South Africa, on Friday.
In a repeat of the tournament's final in Houston two years ago, the top-ranked Chinese pair overwhelmed world No. 2 Tomokazu Harimoto and Hina Hayata of Japan 11-6, 11-2 and 11-7.
China's young pair of Lin Shidong and Kuai Man shared the bronze medal with Wong Chun-ting and Doo Hoi Kem of China's Hong Kong.
It will be an all-Chinese affair in deciding the men's singles winner after four paddlers clinched semifinal berths in the event.
Liang Jingkun scored an emphatic 4-2 victory over fourth seed Harimoto. After two players shared the spoils in the first four games, Liang won 11-9 in both of the following two to advance.
"It was not an easy win. I was more composed and put on an all-around performance on the court. This win can boost my confidence," said Liang, who regarded Harimoto as the strongest opponent for the Chinese team, whether in terms of his young age or techniques.
Liang will lock horns with top seed Fan Zhendong, who accounted for Omar Assar of Egypt, the second African player to reach the World Championships quarterfinals, in straight games.
Second-seeded Wang Chuqin ended Danish underdog Anders Lind's campaign in Durban with a 4-1 win over the world No.180.
Wang will next take on Ma Long after the reigning Olympic champion dispatched compatriot Lin Gaoyuan 4-1.
China's Wang Chuqin celebrates after winning his men's singles quarterfinal match at the Table Tennis World Championships Finals in Durban, South Africa, May 26, 2023. /CFP
In the women's singles quarterfinals, Wang Yidi suffered a heartbreaking loss to Japan's Hayata in full games.
Trailing two games to three, and 5-8 in the sixth game, Wang snatched six straight points to force a decider. In a nerve-wracking deciding game, which witnessed exchanges of match points between the two paddlers, Hayata managed to come out on top 21-19.
"A tough seventh game. I led many times, but I failed to win it. I was not quite determined at that time with a bit fluke. The more crucial time it was, the more mistakes I made," Wang admitted.
Mima Ito of Japan plays in her women's singles quarterfinal match at the Table Tennis World Championships Finals in Durban, South Africa, May 26, 2023. /CFP
Top seed Sun Yingsha outplayed Germany's Han Ying 4-0 and will meet Hayata in the semifinals.
Meanwhile, Chen Xingtong continued her favorable momentum built on a full-game thrilling win against Cheng I-ching of Chinese Taipei in the previous round, posting a 4-0 victory over defending champion Wang Manyu.
"I just played what I wanted to play without any burden against my teammate," commented Chen.
Chen's semifinal opponent will be Olympic champion Chen Meng, who got past Mima Ito of Japan 4-0.
Sun Yingsha(L) and Wang Manyu of China play during the women's doubles semifinals at the Table Tennis World Championships Finals in Durban, South Africa, May 26, 2023. /CFP
In the women's doubles semifinals, Chen Meng and Wang Yidi emerged victorious 3-1 against Japan's Miyuu Kihara and Miyu Nagasaki, but two-time winners Sun Yingsha and Wang Manyu fell 3-0 to South Korean duo Jeon Ji-hee and Shin Yu-bin in a surprise loss.
(With input from Xinhua)