China reach ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships semis on both fronts

Chinese paddlers reached the semifinal round in both men's and women's team events with 3-0 victories at the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals on Thursday.  

The women's squad, composed of world No.1 Sun Yingsha, Olympic champion Chen Meng, and 2nd-ranked Wang Yidi, downed South Korea's Lee Zi-on, Jeon Ji-hee, and Shin Yu-bin, respectively, to set up their last-four clash against the French women's team.  

Sun showed no mercy to Lee in the opener, winning eight points in a row to snatch an 11-1 win in the first game, and fully unleashed her attacking firepower to prevail 11-5, 11-1 to move the reigning champions in front.

Facing South Korea's No. 1 player Jeon, who had not dropped any of her six previous sets prior to Thursday's action, Chen kept imposing pressure in the first game for an 11-5 win. Jeon cut the deficit to 6-7 in the second game, but Chen pulled away to emerge victorious 11-7 and rallied from 5-8 down to win 11-9 in the third game to extend China's lead.  

South Korea's hope of a comeback all hinged on Shin was later denied by Wang, who completed the job with a relatively smooth start of 11-5, 11-3, and 12-10 in the deciding game when she was made to save one game point.

On the men's side, Fan Zhendong, Wang Chuqin, and Ma Long beat Japan's Sora Matsushima, Tomokazu Harimoto, Hiroto Shinozuka, respectively. As opposed to its nail-biting 3-2 win in the men's team semifinal two years ago in the Chengdu edition, the Chinese paddlers notched a hard-fought prevailing victory this time.

Fan withstood Matsushima's challenge to come out on top in four games after the first went to the 16-year-old, with all first three games ending on two-point gaps.

Down 7-10 in the first game, the Japanese teenager saved three game points before edging to a 13-11 win. Ranked only 33rd in the world, he displayed his ability in rallies with spectacular shots drawing cheers at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center. He then came back from 6-10 down to force a 10-all tie, but top-ranked Fan kept his cool to prevail 12-10 as the clash returned to level terms.

Matsushima gained the upper hand with his attacking firepower, leading again 9-6 in the third game, but Fan demonstrated his status to turn the tide at 12-10. The fourth game saw Fan regain his superior position, as the world No. 1 rounded out his win at 11-6.

"Matsushima played great today, and I could feel much pressure from him," admitted Fan.

Wang later repeated Fan's journey to victory, coming back from a game down 8-11 to beat Harimoto in four games with three victories 11-2, 11-7, 11-6.

"He has been in a good form recently, and had some quality shots against other players, so I made good preparations for any difficulties," said Wang.

Olympic champion Ma then outclassed world No. 74 Hiroto Shinozuka 11-9, 11-5, 9-11, 11-9 to secure China's semifinal berth.

(With input from Xinhua)