China's men defeat Chinese Taipei in final at Asian Table Tennis Championships

China defeated Chinese Taipei 3-1 in the men's team final at the Asian Table Tennis Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Thursday, claiming their 24th title at the event.

Wang Chuqin headed to the table first for China to take on Kao Cheng-Jui. The opening game was the closest, as the two players found themselves knotted at 5-5 and then at 8-8. Wang shrugged off the pressure to claim the frame 11-9 and grab a 1-0 lead in the match.

The World No. 1 continued to attack with aggression, extending his lead to 2-0 after taking the second game 11-5, and sealing the deal 11-6 in the third.

The second match between Lin Shidong and Lin Yun-ju featured a lot more ferocity. Lin Shidong won the first two games by identical scores of 11-7, but his opponent responded by snatching the third 11-8.

Lin Yun-Ju started the fourth game with a 3-0 run, but Lin Shidong tied things at 5-5, before surging into a 10-8 lead to bring up match point. He then wrapped things up 12-10, extending China's overall lead to 2-0.

Liang Jingkun was up next for China as he played against Huang Yan-Cheng. Liang's 6-0 lead in the first game was converted into an 11-7 win, but Huang tied the match at 1-1 after securing the second game by the same score.

Liang regained the lead with a quick 11-1 victory in the third game, but was then outplayed by Huang, who took back-to-back games 11-9 and 13-11 to keep the men's team final alive.

Wang and Lin Yun-Ju faced each other in the fourth match and China's World No. 1 endured a rough start when Lin claimed the first two games 11-1 and 11-8.

But Wang responded with a sharp counterstrike, first taking the third game 11-8, and then surviving a heated battle in the fourth 12-10. Wang proved unstoppable in the decisive fifth game, opening with a 7-0 run and ending the contest 11-4, sealing the championship trophy for China.