CHENGDU, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) -- China overcame Japan 8-5 before getting past Sweden 8-4 on Saturday, advancing into the semifinals with nine wins in as many matches at the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Mixed Team World Cup in Chengdu.
Facing Japan, who also stayed unbeaten prior to Saturday's action, China took a three-game lead through Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha in the mixed doubles, as the Olympic champion duo overwhelmed Shunsuke Togami and Miwa Harimoto 11-4, 11-6, 11-5.
"We played against them in this tournament two years ago. Compared with that match, we made full preparations and did well on our adjustments today," said Sun.
China saw its lead extended to four games after Wang Manyu beat Mima Ito 12-10, 10-12, 11-2 in the women's singles.
Japan showed signs of life afterwards, with Sora Matsushima prevailing 2-1 over China's Liang Jingkun in the men's singles, before Hiroto Shinozuka and Togami outplayed Wang Chuqin and Lin Shidong with the same score in the men's doubles.
"I had some unforced errors in the first and second games, and was not quite focused on the court," Wang explained.
Trailing 7-5 in games, Japan's comeback efforts were snuffed out by women's doubles world No. 1 Wang Manyu and Kuai Man, who beat Harimoto and Satsuki Odo 11-9.
"It was our first match as a pair this time. We felt a little nervous at the start, but overall our play was fine," Kuai commented.
Already assured of a place in the semifinals, China rested Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha in its second stage finale against Sweden.
Lin and Kuai earned the defending champion team a 3-0 lead in the mixed doubles, before Wang Yidi extended it to 5-1 in the women's singles.
In his first appearance in the Chengdu tournament, Xu Yingbin fell in straight games to Anton Kallberg in the men's singles, as Sweden pulled within 5-4 in games.
Xu cherished the experience of competing in major international events like the ITTF Mixed Team World Cup. "In these events, some things might go beyond your expectations, and your mind would not go blank when you competed in some lower-level events. It was a good experience for me," he remarked.
In the women's doubles, Wang Manyu and Kuai left no room of a comeback for Sweden, dispatching Linda Bergstrom and Filippa Bergand 11-6, 11-7, 11-7 to secure China's ninth consecutive win.
Japan finished second in the eight-team second stage despite an 8-7 loss to France, while Germany and South Korea ranked third and fourth, respectively.
In Sunday's semifinals, China faces South Korea while Japan takes on Germany, with the winners to contend for the title in the evening session while losers to go head-to-head for the bronze. ■
