China is back on top of the world for the twelfth crown in a row, beating Japan 3-0 at the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals in London.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
China lifted the Swaythling Cup to deny Japan in the final for the first time since 2016 and help China claim a double in London. The Chinese women had beaten Japan 3-2 in the women’s team final earlier last night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thousands of fans lined the streets of Wembley in eager anticipation of an epic finale, and those fortunate enough to get a ticket would witness a stunning opening chapter between Liang Jingkun and Tomokazu Harimoto.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For all the world, it seemed destined that Japan would claim the first strike as Harimoto threw down the gauntlet, pulling two games clear before later setting up match point at 9-10 in the fourth. However, Jiangkun, who made jaws drop with an audacious comeback bid against Alexis Lebrun in the semifinals, would defy the odds again, saving that match point to force a decider where he\u2019d overturn a staggering 3-8 deficit against Harimoto at the last to win 8-11, 4-11, 11-9, 13-11, 11-8.<\/p>\n\n\n\n