Japan dominates wheelchair tennis at Hangzhou Asian Para Games
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E-mail Xinhua, October 28, 2023
Japan continued their dominance in wheelchair tennis at the Hangzhou Asian Para Games with five golds from six events as the sport's competitions concluded here on Friday, while hosts China clinched three medals in the women's events.
Spearheaded by veteran Zhu Zhenzhen, China sent six athletes to compete in the men's and women's singles and doubles events. Zhu is China's first ever wheelchair tennis player to compete at a Grand Slam, where she defeated defending champion and world No. 1 Diede de Groot of the Netherlands to reach the singles semifinals at the 2020 Australian Open.
The current world No. 5 eliminated Han In-kyung of South Korea and compatriot Wang Ziying to set up a final showdown against old rival and world No. 1 Yui Kamiji of Japan on Thursday.
Facing off the eight-time Grand Slam singles winner, Zhu couldn't figure out a good way to handle Kamiji's fierce offense, allowing the Japanese to retain her Asian Para Games title.
"I am familiar with Zhu. I played with her a couple of times and I knew more about her game skills. She has won some prizes as well, so I am happy to win over her," said Kamiji after the final.
China's Wang edged compatriot Guo Luoyao to take the bronze.
Kamiji's singles triumph came two days after she converted her doubles silvers from the Jakarta and Incheon Games to a gold by defeating China's Zhu/Guo 6-4, 6-3 with teammate Manami Tanaka.
On the men's side, it was an all-Japanese singles final for the fourth consecutive time at the Asian Para Games, with 17-year-old sensation and world No. 1 Tokito Oda claiming the gold medal. Takashi Sanada took the silver and Takuya Miki, also of Japan, rounded out the podium.
Dong Shunjiang lost to Miki in the bronze medal match, though it's already the best finish so far for China's male wheelchair tennis athletes at the Asian Para Games.
South Korea's Im Ho-won and Han Sung-bong won the men's doubles, while Koji Sugeno of Japan emerged victorious in the quad singles and quad doubles with teammate Daisuke Ishito.
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