In an electrifying showdown at the Asian Table Tennis Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, Japan pulled off a sensational 3-1 victory over defending champions China in the women's team final on Wednesday. Talk about an epic upset! 🎉
The evening kicked off with world number four Wang Yidi from China squaring off against Japan's rising star, Miwa Harimoto. Wang started strong, taking the first game 11-7. But Harimoto wasn't backing down. The pair went head-to-head, splitting the next four frames, setting the stage for a nail-biting decider. With Wang leading 9-8, Harimoto turned the tables, winning three straight points to clinch the match 11-9. Boom! Japan takes the lead 1-0. 🙌
Next up, it was the much-anticipated clash between world number one Sun Yingsha and Japan's Mima Ito. Sun showcased why she's at the top, dominating the first two games and sealing the third 11-5. China levels the score 1-1. Game on! 🔥
The third match saw Miu Hirano of Japan face off against China's Chen Xingtong. Hirano was on fire, defeating Chen 3-1 and pushing Japan ahead once more, 2-1. The pressure was building! 😱
In the fourth match, Sun Yingsha returned to the table to face Miwa Harimoto. Sun took an early advantage, winning the first two games 11-9 and 11-6. But Harimoto, just 16 years old, wasn't about to give up. She staged an incredible comeback, forcing a decider and storming ahead to win 11-6. With that, Japan clinched the title! 🏆🇯🇵
This victory marks a monumental moment for Japan, ending China's dominance in the women's team event. Huge congrats to the Japanese team! 🎊
Reference(s):
Japan stun China 3-1 to win women's team title at Asian Championships
cgtn.com
