LONDON, May 9 (Xinhua) -- China sailed past Romania 3-0 in the women's team semifinals on Saturday to set up a repeat of the final against Japan at the 2026 ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals.
China had dominated Romania 3-0 in the group stage, with Romania resting its highest-ranked player Bernadette Szocs and veteran Elizabeta Samara. Like that match, China didn't concede a game en route to a comfortable win on Saturday.
Sun Yingsha cruised past 37-year-old Samara 11-3, 11-4, 11-5 to earn China the lead.
Wang Manyu beat world No. 26 Szocs 11-4, 11-9 and 12-10, as China moved a step closer to the final.
Kuai Man closed out the tie for China, overcoming a slow start on the way to a 12-10, 11-6, 12-10 victory over Andreea Dragoman.
China and Japan will meet in the final for the sixth time in a row since 2012. Two years ago in South Korea's Busan, China won 3-2 to claim its sixth consecutive title.
Despite the defeat, Romania has secured a medal in the women's team event for the first time in 26 years. ■
