On December 9, in the ITTF Mixed Team World Cup held in Chengdu, the Chinese team won 8-5 in the match with the Japanese team, but also suffered the defeat of mixed doubles and men's singles. This is the first time that the Chinese team has lost the mixed doubles event in this tournament, so Wang Chuqin bluntly said after the game that he was not sharing enough for his teammates and was responsible. Wang Chuqin, known as the "sledgehammer", and his partner Sun Yingsha lost 1:2 to the Japanese combination Hayasuke Togami Miwa Zhangmoto, which made the Chinese team suffer cold water after a good start. Wang Chuqin said that he was not proactive in key points, and there were times when he was conservative in his play, and he thought that this was a lesson that should be reflected.
Even though the mixed doubles failed, Wang Manyu of the women's team still made two great contributions to the Chinese team. In the women's singles field, Wang Manyu defeated Japan's Hina Hayada 3:0, rewriting the score to 4:2, and the Chinese team took the lead. Immediately after the women's doubles match, Wang Manyu partnered with Chen Meng again, and defeated the Japanese pair 2:1 after almost losing two match points in a row, once again gaining an advantage for the team. Although the process was not easy, Wang Manyu said that it was still important to establish a lead for the national table tennis again. It was precisely because of the outstanding performance of the women's team that the Chinese team won the match point 7:5 before.
However, just when the Chinese team was about to win, Fan Zhendong of the men's singles unexpectedly lost 1:2 to Japanese rising star Tomokazu Zhangmoto. Fan Zhendong said after the game that the opponent had too many unexpected changes, and his response speed was not enough, so he would fall into passivity. Fortunately, at this time, the men's doubles Ma Long Wang Chuqin relayed the game and defeated the Japanese pair 1:0, helping the Chinese team finally lock up the 8:5 victory. Ma Long admitted that this was the first men's doubles match they played, and it was the first time that they were forced by their opponents to tie the fifth game, and they did feel great pressure. But in the end, it still maintained the Chinese team's all-win record.
After narrowly beating Japan, the Chinese team continued to lead the standings with a record of 48 wins and 9 losses. The Chinese team also maintained a complete victory, as well as the strong South Korean team. South Korea, who beat Germany 8-6 in their previous matches, will now face China in the final for the title of the Mixed Team World Cup.
It will be the ultimate showdown between the two table tennis powerhouses, and the winner will be able to claim the first championship trophy of this brand new event. It is believed that after the fierce battle with the Japanese team, the Chinese team will learn a lesson, adjust the state, and give the South Korean team a strong counterattack in the final. Let's look forward to a hearty table tennis showdown together!
The Chinese team's narrow victory over the Japanese team quickly caused a heated discussion among fans online. Some netizens believe that the Chinese team's recent form has declined, especially the first straight to the point defeat in mixed doubles, which makes people worry about whether the stamina is enough. Some netizens also think that the Japanese team's strength is indeed improving, and the rise of rookies has brought a lot of pressure to the Chinese team. Some netizens believe that the Chinese team has the need to rotate young players and introduce new blood.
Of course, there are also many netizens who express confidence in the Chinese team, believing that they have enough strength to defeat any opponent and will definitely win the championship in the final. No matter what the views of netizens are, fans are looking forward to a high-level showdown between China and South Korea, so let's wait and see!
Whether it is the Chinese team or the South Korean team, as two traditional strong teams in table tennis, the final battle is bound to be a tough battle. Both sides will be in the best shape to dedicate a visual feast to the fans. Under the challenge of the Japanese team, the Chinese team also realized that there could be no slackness. I believe they will learn from the game, adjust the problems and go all out to win. Let's look forward to a great matchup with no equals, and whatever the outcome, the beauty of sports is that close opponents can play their best on the field. The two teams of China and South Korea will definitely be a wonderful footnote for this table tennis showdown!