China clinch men's and women's doubles titles at ITTF in Japan

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China table tennis team shined at the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Japan Open as it clinched the men's and women's doubles titles in Tokyo.

Chen Xingtong and Sun Yingsha capped off their surprise run to the final by lifting the women's doubles crown with victory over Jeon Jihee and Yang Haeun of South Korea, the second seeds, at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.

The unseeded duo who had ousted top seeds Honoka Hashimoto and Hitomi Sato of Japan in the semifinals, topped the podium with a 10-12, 8-11, 11-3, 11-7, 11-6 triumph.

China then continued their dominance as Ma Long and Xu Xin, the second seeds, beat Japan's Masataka Morizono and Yuya Oshima 11-7, 11-9, 6-11, 11-9 in the men's doubles final.

Chinese table tennis player Fan Zhendong. /Tencent Photo

China's Fan Zhendong stayed on track for a successful defense of his men's singles title as he progressed to the semifinals of the tournament. The World Championships silver medalist earned a hard-fought 10-12, 7-11, 12-10, 11-4, 11-8, 11-6 victory over team-mate Liang Jingkun to reach the last four.

He will take on Japan's Jun Mizutani, who overcame Lee Sangsu of South Korea 11-6, 11-9, 4-11, 6-11, 8-11, 11-7, 12-10, in the semi-finals.

The other last four clashes will be between Ma and Xu, who will be on opposite sides of the table the day after sealing the men's doubles crown.

Chinese table tennis player Ma Long (R) and Fan Zhendong (L). /Tencent Photo‍

Ma, the reigning Olympic and world champion, beat Japan's Koki Niwa 11-8, 12-10, 9-11, 11-5, 11-3, while Xu received a walkover due to an injury suffered by team-mate and opponent Fang Bo.

Second seed Chen Meng of China secured her place in the last four of the women's competition by beating Japan's fifth seed Miu Hirano 11-7, 11-8, 11-5, 11-7.

She will next face Germany's Han Ying, who upset fourth seed Cheng I-Ching of Chinese Taipei 11-7, 10-12, 11-4, 10-12, 11-8, 11-7.

China's Wang Manyu, who had to come through the qualification stage to reach the main draw, stunned Japan's Mima Ito, the number eight seed, 4-11, 8-11, 13-11, 12-10, 11-9, 11-8 to progress to the semi-finals.

The women's singles final will be an all-Chinese affair as Sun Yingsha also progressed, ousting 10th seed Shan Xiaona of Germany 11-7, 4-11, 3-11, 11-9, 11-13, 11-8.

(Source: Xinhua)