Following the success of the China women in the women’s final earlier in the day, the Chinese men’s team also went up against Japan as they sought to make it a double win for China.
The last time these two nations met in a World Team Table Tennis Championships final was in 2016, when China came out on top 3-0.
The opening match up this time around saw world number three, Tomokazu Harimoto (JPN), face Liang Jingkun (CHN), and it was the Japanese player who rattled through to a 2-0 lead (11-8, 11-4) before the packed crowd cheered Liang back into the match at 2-2 (11-8, 11-4, 9-11, 11-13).
In the fifth and deciding game, the closeness of the two players really stood out as they reached 8-8. A net shot from Harimoto save Liang the first match point at 10-8 which he took at the first time of asking to win the game (11-8) and give China the lead in the match 1-0.
Looking to cement that first victory, China brought world number one, Wang Chuqin, to the table where he played Sora Matsushima (WR8).
In what was a close opening game, Matsushima doing enough to force the issue and seize momentum at the right time to take it 11-8.
The second started close before Wang raised the level and created a lead for himself at 8-5. Matsushima started the comeback, reeling Wang in to 10-9 and then 10-10, before the Chinese won back-to-back points to claim the game and make it 1-1.
If the first two games had been close, then the third was the opposite as Wang raced into a 9-1 and then a 10-2 lead, as he sealed it 11-2.
Now with a 2-1 advantage, Wang found himself 3-1 and then 6-2 down in the fourth game. He battled back to 6-5 before Matsushima took a timeout. On their return, the players traded blows as the scores drew level at 9-9. Wang then took it to match point which he converted shortly after to give China a 2-0 match lead.
Knowing his nation needed something special from him, Shunsuke Togami came to the table for Japan to face Lin Shidong.
He pushed world number six, Lin, and battled back before the Chinese player took the game 11-9. In the second game, both players were going for their shots knowing what the rewards would bring – success for one nation, survival for the other.
With the game tied at 4-4, Lin pushed forwards to lead 7-4 and then 8-5 before moving to game point at 10-5. Togami was powerless to stop him completing the game victory which set China on the brink of defending their championship crown once again.
Lin came to the table to seal that victory but was made to work by Togami who opened up a 5-2 lead. After opening that up to 7-3, he was outdone in a stellar rally but bounced back to edge closer to being in a position to win the game.
Moving to 9-4 before Lin closed the gap to 9-7, Togami took a timeout knowing the importance of getting this game over the line. He won the next two points to earn and then convert game point to come back into the match at 2-1 down.
Keen to see his nation over the line swiftly, Lin made a fast start in the fourth game before Togami drew nearer to make it 7-6 and then 8-8.
Lin then opened up championship point which Togami was unable to defend and saw China crowned champions once again. The game finishing 11-9, 11-5, 7-11, 11-8 to complete a 3-0 match win for China.
