Hosts make semi-finals (2018 Halmstad)
Men’s Teams: Quarter-finals
What a huge upset we have had here! Bronze medallists at the 2016 edition, Team England have been ousted by the hosts in the quarter-finals of the 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships!
Two-time Olympian Paul Drinkhall first lost the opener to Sweden’s Kristian Karlsson, before Mattias Karlsson stole the show in his 3-2 win over Liam Pitchford – which was also Pitchford’s first loss of the tournament. Team Sweden secured their passage into the semi-finals when Sam Walker was defeated by Jon Persson.
Japan defeat a historic Unified Korea team (2018 Halmstad)
Women’s Teams: Semi-finals
Team Japan found their feet in quite a fashion, despite the focus being on the first ever Unified Korean Team in action here at the 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships in Halmstad. The Korean team was formed on the spot through an agreement between the federations of both North and South Korea. The two nations’ teams had been scheduled to play each other in the quarterfinals but formed a combined team that was handed a bye into the semifinals.
Today, Mima Ito defeated Jeon Ji Hee in straight games (11-2, 11-8, 11-9), while Kasumi Ishikawa outlasted Kim Song I in a proper battle (11-4, 6-11, 11-8, 11-13, 16-14) before Miu Hirano wrapped up the win for Japan by seeing off Yang Ha Eun (11-4, 11-5, 9-11, 11-6).
Team China avenges 2010 final defeat in style (Tokyo 2014)
Women’s Teams: Semi-finals
What a way for team China to prove their worth at the World Championships! Facing their conquerors in the final from four years ago – Team Singapore – the Chinese side was surely out for revenge!
And they got it in style, with a 3-0 overall win here in the semi-finals, dropping only one game in the first match between Li Xiaoxia and Feng Tianwei (8-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-7). Other than that, it was a clean sweep for Ding Ning against Yu Mengyu (11-6, 11-3, 11-6) and for Zhu Yuling against Li Isabelle Siyun (11-4, 11-7, 11-7).
Germany make finals after valiant effort by hosts! (Tokyo 2014)
Men’s Teams: Semi-finals
Here we are! Welcome to the 2014 World Team Table Tennis Championships in Tokyo! It’s semi-finals time and the crowd has not been disappointed with the German side taking on hosts, Japan!
After a thundering start by Timo Boll, winning 3-1 (16-18, 11-5, 11-4, 14-12) against Koki Niwa, Jun Mizutani had quickly balanced the tie with a 3-2 (8-11, 18-16, 11-6, 6-11, 8-11) win over Dimitrij Ovtcharov. Sadly for the home fans, it was to be in vain as Patrick Franziska and Timo Boll secured back to back wins over Kenta Matsudaira (12-10, 7-11, 6-11, 11-5, 11-5) and Jun Mizutani (11-6, 11-5, 11-6) respectively, sending Germany into the finals!
Déjà vu in Yokohama (Yokohama 2009)
Men’s and Women’s Singles: Semi-Finals
Bested by Wang Liqin in the 2005 and 2007 World Championships finals, Ma Lin has lost out to his Chinese colleague for the third Championships in a row this time at the semi-final stage. All seven games were required in Yokohama with Wang a step ahead of Ma throughout the course of the match (11-5, 12-14, 11-9, 7-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-6).
Over in the women’s singles semi-finals there was another repeat result as Guo Yue replicated her victory over Li Xiaoxia from the 2007 final. A dramatic comeback effort saw Guo prevail in 2007 but this time it was a significantly more convincing win this time out (11-8, 11-5, 10-12, 11-5, 11-9).
Wang Liqin seas full house (Shanghai 2005)
Mixed Doubles: Final
Wang Liqin has achieved a very special feat today, completing his full collection of titles on offer at the World Championships with his capture of the mixed doubles crown.
Partnering Guo Yue in an epic final, Wang was made to work hard for the final piece of the puzzle with opponents Liu Guozheng and Bai Yang pushing the contest right down to the wire. In the end Wang and Guo held enough to cross the finish line in front (11-4, 6-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-9, 7-11, 11-6). Wang Liqin and Guo Yue are mixed doubles champions of the world!
Olympic champions fall (Shanghai 2005)
Men’s Doubles: Semi-Finals
Drama here in Shanghai with significant semi-final exits for two high-profile men’s doubles pairs.
Gold medallists at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Wang Liqin and Yan Sen tasted defeat at the hands of fellow Chinese compatriots Kong Linghui and Wang Hao (13-11, 11-8, 2-11, 7-11, 11-7, 12-10), while reigning Olympic champions from Athens 2004 Chen Qi and Ma Lin couldn’t handle Germany’s Timo Boll and Christian Süss (13-11, 3-11, 11-6, 15-13, 11-7).