China leads favourites at table tennis team worlds
Reigning champions China and several other favourites made it to the last-16 with perfect winning records in the group stage at the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals on Monday. China's top three players delivered a masterclass, ensuring a straight-sets victory over Croatia, their most formidable opponent in the men's group stage. Coming out of the gate first, Fan Zhendong emerged victorious 11-6, 12-10, 11-9 against Tomislav Pucar. Second-ranked Wang Chuqin dispatched Filip Zeljko 11-6, 11-5, 11-6 to earn the defending champions a two-set lead. World No. 3 Ma Long showcased his attacking firepower in rapid exchanges, winning 11-8, 11-4 in the first two games. Kojic's form then escalated as he built a 9-5 lead in the third game, but Ma notched six points in a row to ensure China's group-leading finish without dropping a set. Hosts South Korea pleased crowds at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center with a 3-0 win over India. France, without the Lebrun brothers, Felix and Alexis, secured a 3-0 victory against Australia. This win, alongside Germany, Japan, Sweden, and Portugal, completed the list of teams with four wins in four group matches, all advancing to the knockout stage undefeated. On the women's side, China concluded its group stage campaign with a 3-0 victory over Hungary. Despite resting its star duo of Shin Yu-bin and Jeon Ji-hee, South Korea managed a straight-set victory over Cuba. Japan, Germany, Romania, Chinese Taipei and Hong Kong, China also achieved 4-0 win-loss records in the group stage, while France suffered its first loss in the Busan event, falling in straight sets to Croatia. (Xinhua)