Sports
11:33, 07-May-2018
China retain men’s table tennis world title
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China steamrolled Germany 3-0 in the men's final to clinch their ninth consecutive World Team Table Tennis title in Halmstad, Sweden on Sunday.
The defending champions, featuring veterans Ma Long, Xu Xin and world No.1 Fan Zhendong, took on the top-seeded side comprised of world No.2 Timo Boll, Ruwen Filus and Patrick Franziska.
China's Fan Zhendong reacts after defeating Ruwen Filus of Germany during the men's final at the World Team Table Tennis Championships in Halmstad, Sweden. /VCG Photo,
China's Fan Zhendong reacts after defeating Ruwen Filus of Germany during the men's final at the World Team Table Tennis Championships in Halmstad, Sweden. /VCG Photo,
In the opening match, China captain Ma surprisingly outclassed the 37-year-old Boll 11-4, 11-8, 11-3 to give an early lead to China in the best of five contest. The next match saw 21-year Fan outplaying Filus 11-4, 11-5, 11-4.
Playing against Franziska in the crucial third match, the left-handed Xu registered a hard-fought four-set win to give his side the Swaythling Cup for 9th consecutive time and 21 times in all.
China's team members pose with their trophy on the podium after beating Germany in the men's final at the World Team Table Tennis Championships. /VCG Photo
China's team members pose with their trophy on the podium after beating Germany in the men's final at the World Team Table Tennis Championships. /VCG Photo
Ma attributed the victory to the whole team. Asked about the Tokyo Olympics, he said, “Two years is not long, also not short either, I need to plan for it, but first of all, I have to get the ticket to Tokyo.”
(With input from Xinhua)