European powerhouse Germany marched past Japan 3-2 and into the final of the men’s Olympic table tennis team event yesterday where they will meet China who beat South Korea.
German rising star Dimitrij Ovtcharov edged out Kan Yo before veteran Timo Boll downed Japanese teen prodigy Jun Mizutani.
Jun, teamed with Seiya Kishikawa, hit back by beating Christian Suss and Ovtcharov in the doubles, setting up a thrilling finale.
PHOTO: AFP
Former Chinese paddler Kan Yo leveled the match by beating Suss in a tense five-setter before Boll returned to the table to edge past Kishikawa.
Boll threw himself to the ground and was on the verge of tears after the decisive victory.
The star-studded Chinese men’s team whitewashed the South Koreans 3-0, with the trio of Ma Lin, Wang Hao, Wang Liqin proving too hot to handle.
Four-time World Cup winner Ma got the ball rolling but was made to sweat before easing past Oh Sang-Eun.
World No. 1 Wang Hao then demolished reigning Olympic champion Ryu Seung-min. Wang Liqin and Wang Hao clinched the match by beating Yoon Jae-young and Oh Sang-eun in the doubles.
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