China takes 5th consecutive women's team title in Asiad table tennis

Team China celebrate after the women's team finals table tennis match between China and Japan at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)

HANGZHOU, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- China defeated Japan 3-0 to clinch its fifth consecutive women's team title in table tennis at the Hangzhou Asian Games here on Tuesday.

China swept aside Thailand 3-0 to advance into the final, while Japan triumphed 3-1 over South Korea in the other semifinal on Monday.

China raced ahead in the final as world No. 1 Sun Yingsha beat Hina Hayata 3-1 (11-6, 12-10, 8-11, 11-9).

"My teammates gave me much support when I played on the field, and we become more and more united," Sun said after the match.

Olympic champion Chen Meng rallied from a 1-2 deficit to edge Miu Hirano in full games (12-10, 8-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-5) to move China further ahead, and the hosts secured the title following Wang Manyu's 3-1 (6-11, 11-4, 11-7, 13-11) victory over 15-year-old Miwa Harimoto.

"It was one of the fiercest matches recently against Japan. My team embodies the spirit of unity and struggle. I believe they will be better in the next games," said Ma Lin, head coach of China's women's team.

"We all tried our best to play against the powerful team China, but it's a pity to lose the games, and we've got very valuable experience today," Hayata commented.

Sun Yingsha of China competes during the women's team finals table tennis match between China and Japan at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

Hayata Hina of Japan competes during the women's team finals table tennis match between China and Japan at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

Sun Yingsha of China competes during the women's team finals table tennis match between China and Japan at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

Sun Yingsha of China competes during the women's team finals table tennis match between China and Japan at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

Sun Yingsha (up) of China competes during the women's team finals table tennis match between China and Japan at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

Chen Meng of China competes during the women's team finals table tennis match between China and Japan at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

Sun Yingsha of China competes during the women's team finals table tennis match between China and Japan at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

Sun Yingsha of China competes during the women's team finals table tennis match between China and Japan at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

Chen Meng of China competes during the women's team finals table tennis match between China and Japan at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

Chen Meng of China reacts during the women's team finals table tennis match between China and Japan at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

Team China react during the women's team finals table tennis match between China and Japan at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

Gold Medalists of Team China attend the awarding ceremony of the women's team table tennis at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)

Team China celebrate after the women's team finals table tennis match between China and Japan at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)

Gold Medalists of Team China, Silver Medalists of Team Japan, Bronze Medalists of South Korea and Thailand, attend the awarding ceremony of the women's team table tennis at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

Silver Medalists of Team Japan attend the awarding ceremony of the women's team table tennis at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

Gold Medalists of Team China attend the awarding ceremony of the women's team table tennis at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

Team China celebrate after the women's team finals table tennis match between China and Japan at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

Coach Ma Lin of China shows medals after the awarding ceremony of the women's team table tennis match at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)