No Stopping Japan – Team Finals: Asian Games 2018

No Stopping Japan – Team Finals: Asian Games 2018

Japan ended a sequence of five straight women’s team titles for China at the Asian Games, beating the ten-time champions 3-1 in the final on Wednesday. Japan recaptured the crown that they last won in 1970 in Bangkok.

China won the men’s team title beating Indonesia by the same margin.

Chen Yufei gave China a great start beating Akane Yamaguchi 21-15 21-15 in the opening singles. However, Japan’s depth proved too great for China, as Yuki Fukushima/Sayaka Hirota overwhelmed Chen Qingchen/Jia Yifan 21-12 21-17 and Nozomi Okuhara made it 2-1 getting past He Bingjiao 21-16 19-21 21-15.

Misaki Matsutomo/Ayaka Takahashi completed the victory with a 21-16 21-11 result over Huang Dongping/Zheng Yu.

China had a far tougher battle on their hands against hosts Indonesia.

Shi Yuqi was stuck in a tense battle with Anthony Ginting and came away winner after his opponent retired at 14-21 23-21 21-20.

Marcus Fernaldi Gideon/Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo made it one-all blowing away World champions 21-17 21-18.

Chen Long held his nerve in a 94-minute encounter against Jonatan Christie, before Liu Cheng/Zhang Nan sealed the tie with another close win over Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto, 21-18 17-21 21-18.

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