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Tokyo • Defending champion China overpowered Taiwan 3-0 on Sunday to advance to the final of the table tennis team world championships.
Xu Xin set China on the way with an 11-7, 11-8, 11-8 win over Chen Chien-an in the opening match at Yoyogi National Gymnasium.
Ma Long beat Chuang Chih-yuan 11-9, 13-11, 11-8, before Zhang Jike overcame Huang Sheng-Sheng 11-6, 10-12, 11-3, 11-6 to seal the win for the tournament favorites.
Timo Boll won two matches as Germany beat Japan 3-1 in the other semifinal.
Boll recovered to beat Koki Niwa 16-18, 11-5, 11-4, 14-12 in the opening game and capped Germany's win with an 11-6, 11-5, 11-6 victory over Jun Mizutani. Patrick Franziska defeated Kenta Matsudaira 12-10, 7-11, 6-11, 11-5, 11-5 for Germany's other win.
In the women's event, China beat Singapore 3-0 to advance to the finals against host Japan which beat Hong Kong 3-1.