Wang Xiaotong of China competes against Kuruno Aoi of Japan during their table tennis women's team final at the 31st FISU Summer World University Games in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Aug. 1, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)
Despite some challenges in the final, China still claimed the table tennis women's team gold at the Chengdu Universiade.
CHENGDU, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- China beat Japan 3-2 to win the table tennis women's team title at the 31st FISU World University Games here on Tuesday.
En route to the final, China did not lose any rubber, including easy wins over South Korea in quarterfinals and against Chinese Taipei in the semifinals.
During Tuesday's final, China lost the first rubber as He Zhuojia was beaten by Kyoka Idesawa 11-3, 13-15, 12-10, 5-11 and 11-4.
Qian Tianyi levelled the score for China by edging over Kasumi Kimura 13-11, 11-6 and 14-12, and Wang Xiaotong put China ahead 2-1, taking down Aoi Kurono 11-7, 9-11, 11-5 and 14-12.
In the fourth rubber, Qian Tianyi squandered her 5-1 lead in the deciding game, losing to Idesawa 11-8, 4-11, 9-11, 11-4 and 11-9.
He Zhuojia of China celebrates scoring during her match. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)
Then He came out again in the decisive fifth where she triumphed over Kimura 11-3, 11-4, 8-11 and 11-6 to seal the victory for China.
"This is a tough win, and we fought as a team," He said after the match.
"Our players are fully prepared for every team, but we didn't foresee such a strong challenge from Japan," said Zang Yuying, coach of China, adding that they will make adjustments in the coming individual matches.
Idesawa was satisfied, saying that "I am very happy that we could compete with China and I think our performance was good." ■
