Represented by Ding Ning, Liu Shiwen and Zhu Yuling; China won the Women’s Team title at the Asian Championships in the Korean city of Busan on Tuesday 2nd July 2013.

They overcame the Hong Kong trio of Jiang Huajun, Lee Ho Ching and Guan Mengyuan in a most emphatic manner in the final.

No great problems for the Chinese women but that was not the situation for the counterpart Men’s Team of Ma Long, Xu Xin and Yan An.

At the semi-final stage they emerged successful against the Korean trio of Seo Hyundeok, Lee Sangsu and Jung Youngsik; a contest in which they endured moments of drama.

Similarly, for Japan, the outfit China will meet in the Men’s Team final, the penultimate round was a testing occasion for the trio formed by Jun Mizutani, Kenta Matsudaira and Seiya Kishikawa.

The Chinese Taipei team of Chuang Chih-Yuan, Chen Chien-An and Chiang Hung-Chieh came within a whisker of victory.

In the final of the Women’s Team event, China showed no mercy; a three-nil success being the end result.

Ding Ning overcame Lee Ho Ching (11-7, 11-6, 11-3), Liu Shiwen accounted for Jiang Huajun (11-6, 11-5, 11-4), before Zhu Yuling brought matters to a conclusion by defeating Guan Mengyuan (11-3, 11-2, 11-1).

A comprehensive win for the Chinese women, for the men it was different; with Oh Sangeun and Ryu Seungmin sitting in the VIP area watching proceedings unfold, the new look Korean Men’s Team rose to the challenge.

Proceedings started with Seo Hyeondeok facing Ma Long; the Korean won the first two games, lost the third before holding match point at 10-9 in the fourth game.

Ma Long won the next three points and although the fifth game was decided by the minimal two point margin, Ma Long was never in arrears. He won a full distance duel (9-11, 10-12, 11-4, 12-10, 11-9).

China ahead, the lead was extended with Xu Xin beating Lee Sangsu in three straight games (11-9, 11-9, 11-4), before Jung Youngsik rose to the challenge.

He overcame Yan An in impressive style (11-8, 11-6, 16-14) to give team and the crowd hope.

Next into the arena came Lee Sangsu and Ma Long; hope grew in Korean hearts, just over one year ago in May at the GAC Group 2012 KRA Korean Open. Lee Sangsu had beaten Ma Long in the second round of the Men’s Singles event.

In Busan he threatened to repeat the success; he won the first three games before Ma Long recovered to secure a five games win and a place in the final for China.

A hard fought win for China, it was even harder for Japan; they overcame Chinese Taipei by three matches to two.

Jun Mizutani gave Japan the perfect start by beating Chen Chien-An (11-7, 11-8, 11-6); Chinese Taipei levelled with Chuang Chih-Yuan overcoming Kenta Matudaira (11-6, 11-6, 9-11, 11-9).

Matters level; next came the contest that was to prove the deciding factor.

Seiya Kishikawa lost the first two games against Chiang Hung-Chieh, he recovered to win the next but sat 10-8 in the fourth game faced two match points; he saved both and saved against when Chiang Hung-Chieh led 12-11.

The next three points went to Seiya Kishikawa; a deciding five game loomed. Chiang Hung-Chieh re-grouped and established a 10-8 lead, two further match points. Again Seiya Kishikawa recovered he won four points in a row to give Japan the lead.

Seiya Kishikawa won in five games (10-12, 6-11, 11-5, 14-12, 12-10).

Chuang Chih-Yuan duly levelled matters by beaten Jun Mizutani in four games (11-9, 11-6, 7-11, 14-12), leaving Chen Chien-An and Kenta Matsudaira the players to decide the issue.

The vote went to Kenta Matsudaira but not before dramatic moment; he won the first two games, lost the next two before securing the fifth game. 

A place in the final had been booked but it had been booked the hard way; the final will be played on Wednesday 3^rd July 2013.

Article By: ITTF - Ian Marshall

Photo By: An Sungho