Nagoya – Tomokazu Harimoto said Japan had overcome its inferiority complex after ending table tennis powerhouse China’s 32-year run as Asian Games men’s team champion in a nail-biting final. China had won gold in the event at every Games since 1994 but it was dethroned by Japan after Sora Matsushima beat Wen Ruibo in the decisive match to win 3-2. The Japan team also featured Harimoto, whose parents were both born in China and whose mother once represented the country at the world championships.
Japan had two top-five players in No. 3 Matsushima and No. 4 Harimoto. He probably wouldn’t mind, but I minded.” Wang won the opening match against Matsushima but lost 3-0 against Harimoto. The Chinese player said: “Psychologically, I ran into problems“.
China got their own back in the women’s team final, beating Japan 3-0. But the men’s defeat left a bitter taste in the mouths of Chinese fans, who vented their anger on social media.
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