July 30, (THEWILL) – China has reclaimed its dominance in Olympic table tennis, winning gold in the mixed doubles event at the 2024 Paris Games.
Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha defeated North Korea’s Ri Jong Sik and Kim Kum Yong in a thrilling final, with scores of 11-6 7-11 11-8 11-5 7-11 and 11-8.
This victory marks China’s return to the top of the podium in mixed doubles, after losing the inaugural event in Tokyo three years ago. The win also solidifies China’s position as the world’s leading table tennis nation, having won 32 out of 37 gold medals since the sport’s Olympic debut.
North Korea’s silver medal is particularly significant, as it represents their first Olympic medal in eight years. The country had previously skipped the 2021 Tokyo Olympics due to COVID-19 concerns. South Korea’s Lim Jong-hoon and Shin Yu-bin won the bronze medal, completing Asia’s dominance of the podium.
The match took place in a packed South Paris Arena, with enthusiastic Chinese supporters creating an electric atmosphere. Wang and Sun, undefeated outside China for four years and ranked world number one, demonstrated their skill and composure throughout the contest.
Looking ahead, China aims to complete a clean sweep of table tennis events in Paris. This initial gold medal sets a strong precedent for their campaign, as they seek to maintain their status as the sport’s powerhouse on the global stage.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
