Hong Kong exits, Japan advances to semis at table tennis worlds
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A total of eight teams advanced to the semifinals at Moscow table tennis team worlds on Friday. Japanese teams, both men and women, won the quarterfinals while Hong Kong's men and women paddlers failed to reach the semifinals.
The men paddlers of Hong Kong, China, lost to Japan 0-3.
As soon as the match was over, Japanese men began to expect the play against China in the semifinals.
"I am sure the match against China tomorrow is going to be great. We want to show our very best and to entertain the audience with excellent show," said Jun Mizutani.
Another player, Seiya Kishkawa, was more ambitious.
"I want to beat them. I have already defeated some Chinese players in the past. I just hope I will not encounter with Ma Long. But don't tell it to Chinese coaches," he said.
"Team Japan is young and powerful and they put a lot of pressure on their opponents. Cheung Yuk led 7-3, but he lost, which was very disappointing. I hope our women will be able to win over Germany and face China in the Final," Chan Kong-Wah, head coach of Hong Kong men's team said after they lost the match.
However, his wish didn't come true, as German women defeated Hong Kong women 3-1later.
Hong Kong's Tie Yana and Jiang Huajun both lost to Wu Jiaduo of Germany, whilst in the third match of the duel, 17-year-old Sabine Winter rose to the occasion to beat the much more experienced Zhang Rui.
"It is unbelievable we have advanced to semifinals. Now we have a chance to compete for medals. In any case, what the team has achieved here is phenomenal," German player Kristin Silbereisen said. "We are going to have fun tomorrow in semifinals."
The disappointed Hong Kong women paddlers left the court without comments on the match.
When Japanese women ended the five-hour contest with South Korea 3-2, the "porcelain doll" Ai Fukuhara showed the cheerful supporters a big and heartfelt smile.
The rival of the Japanese girls in the semifinal is China who overcame Netherlands 3-1 in the quarters.
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