China sweeps Australia to reach ITTF World Team Championships last 16

China booked their place in the men's round of 16 at the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals with a commanding 3-0 victory over Australia on Tuesday.

Liang Jingkun set the tone in the opening match, rallying from a 9-6 deficit in the first game against Nicholas Lum by winning five straight points to snatch the initiative. He carried that momentum through the rest of the contest, closing out the next two games 11-5, 11-6 to give China an early lead.

"I tried to get into the match as soon as possible. My performance and feeling on the court was better than that in the past two days," Liang said.

World No. 1 Wang Chuqin extended China's advantage with a dominant display against Aditya Sareen. After edging a tight first game 11-9, Wang found his rhythm and powered through the next two 11-1, 11-2 as the defending champions moved within one win of progression.

"I was a bit tight in the first game, but overall, I took control of the rhythm throughout the match," Wang noted.

Watched courtside by Chinese table tennis icons Ma Long, Xu Xin and Liu Shiwen, Wang said the team drew confidence from the presence of their predecessors.

"With so many seasoned players supporting us, it serves as a testament to the Chinese table tennis team's legacy," he added.

Lin Shidong sealed the victory in the third match, overcoming Australia's Finn Luu 11-5, 11-4, 11-7. Although the scoreline suggested a straightforward win, Lin was tested late on as his opponent adjusted tactics.

"I haven't played him for a long time since the World Youth Championships [in 2021],” Lin said.“Actually it was not an easy match, especially in the third game, he made changes to his serves, which put me under pressure, but I held firm to win."

China will next face Romania, which edged Poland 3-2 on Monday, for a place in the quarterfinals.