China edge Japan for men's & women's titles at ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championship Finals

China completed a clean sweep of honours at the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championship Finals in London on Sunday, prevailing in the men's and women's competition. 

In the men's final, China defeated Japan 3–0 to secure a record‑extending 12th consecutive world team title, a run that stretches back to 2001, helped by another dramatic comeback from Liang Jingkun.  

Liang, who had rallied from two games down to beat France's Alexis Lebrun in the semis, found himself trailing Tomokazu Harimoto 2–0 after losing the first two games 11–8 and 11–4 as Harimoto dictated with pace and aggression. 

Liang slowly swung the momentum with fearless attacking play, taking the next two games 11–9 and 13–11. Harimoto surged to an 8–3 lead in the decider, only for Liang to unleash an extraordinary eight‑point streak and close out, earning an 11–8 victory.

World No. 1 Wang Chuqin then put the tie within reach, recovering after dropping the opener to beat rising Japanese talent Sora Matsushima in four games. Lin Shidong finished the job, defeating Shunsuke Togami in four games to seal the title. The 21-year-old celebrated the winning point with a leap onto the table as teammates flooded the court.

The women's final was exciting and was a five‑match classic against Japan that extended China's supremacy to a seventh consecutive Corbillon Cup and a record 24th overall. The two nations have now met in six straight finals, and Sunday's encounter delivered the tension expected of such a rivalry.

Japan struck first as Miwa Harimoto overwhelmed Wang Manyu 11‑4, 11‑9, and then ceded ground as Wang rallied to take the next two games 11‑6, 11‑4 before Miwa sealed the deciding frame 11‑4.  

Sun Yingsha restored parity with an efficient 3–0 win over Hina Hayata, but Japan's Honoka Hashimoto edged Kuai Man in four to put the visitors ahead. In the pivotal fourth game Sun produced a dominant performance against Miwa Harimoto, 11‑2, 11‑4, 11‑6, forcing a decider, and Wang Manyu completed the turnaround with a clinical 11‑7, 11‑7, 11‑5 victory over Hayata to clinch the trophy.