Paris Olympics: China’s men seal team gold to complete table tennis domination
- Ma Long, Fan Zhendong and Wang Chuqin battle past Sweden to defend crown China has won at every Olympics since 2008
There was plenty of drama but in the end no surprises at the South Paris Arena, as China brushed aside Sweden 3-0 on Friday to maintain their perfect record in the table tennis men’s team final.
The seventh seeds could do nothing in the face of a powerful Chinese legion, led by the legendary Ma Long, who won his sixth Olympic gold medal, four of which have come in team events.
Since the inclusion of the category in Beijing in 2008, China have swept all eight golds, and now nine, across the men’s and women’s competitions, with the number expected to reach double figures on Saturday when China’s women take on Japan in their team final.
Considered the greatest player ever by the International Table Tennis Federation, Ma’s services have not been needed in Paris beyond the opening doubles match, with none of the top seeds’ opponents lasting longer than the minimum three matches.
India, South Korea and France had all tried and failed, and so did the Swedes.
Still, Anton Kallberg and Kristian Karlsson did something no one has else had, taking not one, but two games off Ma and Wang Chuqin, who recovered from losing the first game to win 8-11, 11-4, 11-3, 6-11, 11-7, but only after squandering three match points.
