(by Steve Hopkins, photo ITTF)
China continues to be is strongly favored in all events, but their sweep was broken on Monday as the Korean team of both Jeon/Shin won Women’s Doubles. Perhaps the headline is that China’s sweep is already busted – as this is the only event of the five played so far that did not have a Chinese player or team winning gold. Women’s doubles actually goes one step further – there is not a Chinese team on the podium at all – as it is Korea first (Jeon/Shin), North Korea second (Cha/Pad), and Japan (Harimoto/Kihara) and India (Mukherjee/Mukherjee) each taking third.
Men’s Doubles went to Fan Zhendong and Wang Chuqin (World No. 1 and 2 teaming up) over Korea’s Jang Woojin and Lim Jonghoon. Mixed Doubles was an all-China Final with Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha winning over Lin Gaoyuan and Wang Yidi – and the two Korean teams finished in both of the third place slots.
Despite Chinese dominance across the board, other teams are performing well and there have been some surprises. Thus far in five events, China has four gold medals – and China has also taken second in Mixed Doubles so they have 5 medals (with more to be awarded through the Singles events). Korea has medaled in every event – so that is actually 6 medals total (as they had two teams finish in third in Mixed Doubles). Japan, Taipei, and surprising Iran have each gained two medals. North Korea and India and Thailand each have secured one medal.
Singles Finals are underway in Hangzhou – we’ll have more updates throughout the weekend.
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