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As predicted the Olympics saw absolute domination from the Chinese, coming top of the medals table with 51 golds, 21 silvers and 28 bronzes. The result was no different in the table tennis winning everything that was physically possible, gold in both the men’s and women’s team events as well as the full complement of gold, silver and bronze in the men’s and women’s singles.
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In brief here is how the medals were decided.
Women’s Team
In the gold/silver medal play-offs it was China that was victorious, defeating Singapore in convincing style 3-0, thanks to victories of 3-1, 3-1 and 3-0.
South Korea (Korea Republic) went out of the gold/silver play-offs and into the fight for bronze, which they eventually won after a win over the USA 3-1 and a 3-0 defeat of Japan.
Gold and Silver
Wang Nan (CHN) bt. Tianwei Feng (SIN) 3-1
Yining Zhang (CHN) bt. Li Jia Wei (SIN) 3-1
Wang Yue Guo/Yining Zhang (CHN) bt. Wang Yue Gu/Li Jia Wei (SIN) 3-0
For full results click here
Bronze
Kyung Ah Kim (KOR) bt. Sayaka Hirano (JPN) 3-1
Ye Seo Dang (KOR) bt. Ai Fukuhara (JPN) 3-0
Mi Young Park/Kyung Ah Kim (KOR) bt. Haruna Fukuoka/Sayaka Hirano (JPN) 3-0
For full results click here
Medals:
Gold - China
Silver - Singapore
Bronze - South Korea (Korea Republic)
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Gold medalists Zhang Yining(L), Guo Yue(C) and
Wang Nan of China in the women's team competition |
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Men’s Team
Despite Timo Boll doing his best and winning a set in the singles and doubles, China won their second team table tennis gold with the scoreline 3-0, this time at the downfall of second seeds Germany.
South Korea followed suit with a second bronze medal.
Gold and Silver
Wang Hao (CH) bt. Dimitrij Ovtcharov (GER) 3-0
Ma Lin (CH) bt. Timo Boll (GER) 3-1
Wang Hao/Ma Lin (CH) bt. Christian Suss/Timo Boll (GER) 3-1
For full results click here
Bronze
Sang Eun Oh (KOR) bt. Werner Schlager (AUT) 3-1
Robert Gardos (AUT) bt. Ryu Seung Min (KOR) 3-1
Jae Young Yoon/Sang Eun Oh (KOR) bt.
Chen Weixing/Robert Gardos (AUT) 3-0
Ryu Seung Min (KOR) bt. Chen Weixing (AUT)
For full results click here
Medals:
Gold - China
Silver - Germany
Bronze - South Korea (Korea Republic)
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Zhang Yining of China returns the ball |
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Women’s Singles
In the fight for bronze Li Jia Wei from Singapore was doing her best to stop the hosts from standing on each step of the podium, but after six games Yue Guo was victorious.
Yue Guo (CHN) bt. Li Jia Wei (SIN) 4-2
11-6, 14-12, 9-11, 7-11, 11-3, 11-4
The final saw a battle between two Olympic gold medal holders, Zhang’s from Athens and Wang Nan's from Sydney. It was the reigning Olympic champion Zhang who was the better player on the day coming out on top to take the win 4-1.
Zhang Yinig (CHN) bt. Wang Nan (CHN) 4-1
8-11, 13-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-3
After winning the silver, Wang Nan decided to retire whilst still at the top of her game. Her gold in the team event and silver in the singles in Beijing takes her Olympic medal haul to four golds and one silver, making her the most successful Olympic table tennis player of all time.
Medals:
Gold - Zhang Yinig (click here for her profile)
Silver - Wang Nan
Bronze - Yue Guo |
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Men’s Singles
In the battle for the bronze, Wang Liqin beat Sweden’s Jorgen Persson in impressive style with four straight wins.
Wang Liqin (CHN) bt. Jorgen Persson (SWE) 4-0
13-11, 11-2, 11-5, 11-9
Wang Hao, ranked number one at the time of qualification, went through to his second Olympic singles final, having brought home silver in Athens. Hao would again prove unsuccessful, being defeated at the hands of his older compatriot Ma Lin after five games.
Ma Lin (CHN) bt. Wang Hao (CHN) 4-1
11-9, 11-9, 6-11, 11-7, 11-9
Medals:
Gold - Ma Lin (click here for his profile)
Silver - Wang Hao
Bronze - Wang Liqin |
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Wang Hao, Ma Lin and Wang Liqin of China
attend the awarding ceremony of Men's Singles |
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