China top group, eight teams advance at ITTF Mixed Team World Cup

Eight teams, including hosts Team China, reached the second stage of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Mixed Team World Cup in Chengdu on Tuesday. The other teams are Sweden, Germany, Slovakia, Japan, France, South Korea and Chinese Taipei.

Chinese paddlers emerged atop the group after dispatching Team Puerto Rico 8-2 in the evening session, following their straight-match win over China's Hong Kong earlier in the morning. Previously on Monday, they also downed Sweden 8-0 to claim an opening victory.

In the morning, Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha swept past Doo Hoi Kem and Ho Kwan Kit 11-7, 11-5, 11-7 in mixed doubles to gain a 3-0 lead. Chen Meng extended the lead to six points in the women's singles, beating Zhu Chengzhu 11-6, 11-4, 11-4. In men's singles, world No. 1 Fan Zhendong wrapped up Team China's win against Wong Chun Ting 11-7, 11-4.

Later in their final group clash, world champions mixed duo Wang and Sun again opened the lead for China 11-1, 11-4, 11-2, and Adriana Diaz handed Puerto Rico a lifeline upsetting Wang Manyu 10-12, 12-10 and 11-8. Olympic champion Ma Long, who played his first match at the tournament, extended China's lead outclassing Angel Naranjo 11-6, 11-2, 11-4. Women's duo Wang Yidi and Sun Yingsha rounded off the hosts' first-place finish in the group beating Melanie Diaz and Adriana Diaz 11-3.

"Diaz played very well today. Some of my unnecessary errors on crucial points affected my game today, which I need to reflect on later," said Wang Manyu.

Sweden, who lost to China a day ago, managed to take two wins from Puerto Rico and Hong Kong, China, respectively, to advance as the runners-up.

As the inaugural mixed team world cup of table tennis, the format of the preliminary round is that individual matches last for three games and result in either a 3-0 or 2-1 finish, while teams who first race to an eight-game victory are winners.