Fourth place just one step short of a medal such was the outcome for the French pairing of Emmanuel LEBESSON and YUAN Jia Nan in the mixed doubles event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games on the evening of Monday . In the bronze medal contest the no.8 seeds they were beaten by Chinese Taipeiโs LIN Yun-Ju and CHENG I-Ching the no.3 seeds (11-8 11-7 11-8 11-5).
Gold finished in the hands of the host nationโs Jun MIZUTANI and Mima ITO. The no.2 seeds they recovered from a two games to nil deficit to beat Chinaโs XU Xin and LIU Shiwen the top seeds and hot favourites (5-11 7-11 11-8 11-9 11-9 6-11 11-6). Sensationally in the seventh game the Japanese duo raced into an 8-0 lead.
It is the first ever gold medal won by Japan in the table tennis events at an Olympic Games.
Disappointment for Europe but there was notable success Russiaโs Kirill SKACHKOV setting tone. In the second round of the menโs singles event he upset the odds; The no.37 seed he accounted for Kanak Jha of the United States the no.21 seed (11-9 9-11 11-9 0-11 11-7 11-4).
Good form from Kirill SKACHKOV it was the same from Sloveniaโs Bojan TOKIC. The no.40 seed now 40 years old he raised the eyebrows. He overcame Croatiaโs 25 years of age Tomislav PUCAR the no.23 seed (11-9 11-8 11-9 12-10).
Progress for Kirill SKACHKOV and Bojan TOKIC likewise Slovakiaโs WANG Yang and Jonathan GROTH progressed but there was no such success for Portugalโs Tiago APOLONIA or Ukraineโs KOU Lei. Both bid farewell in round two. Paul DRINKHALL the no.36 seed he lost to Korea Republicโs JANG Woojin the no.9 seed (7-11 12-10 11-8 11-8 11-7).
Meanwhile in the womenโs singles event Austriaโs Liu Jia the no.55 seed upset the seeding. She accounted for Russiaโs Polina Mikhailova the no.27 seed (8-11 7-11 11-8 11-5 11-6 8-11 11-5).
Alas for Europe Polandโs LI Qian the no.28 seed lost to Australiaโs JIAN Fang Lay the no.58 seed (11-7 11-6 5-11 12-10 11-4 11-4) Slovakiaโs Barbora BALAZOVA the no.31 seed was beaten by LIU Juan of the United States the no.68 seed (11-9 11-6 11-9 11-7).
Meanwhile Canadaโs ZHANG Mo the no.21 seed caused the old continent more heartache. She overcame Germanyโs Petrissa SOLJA the no.11 seed (11-7 11-5 9-11 11-6 6-11 8-11 11-3). Similarly Thailandโs SUTHASINI Sawettabut the no.22 seed ousted Romaniaโs Elizabeta SAMARA the no.15 seed (11-7 11-6 4-11 11-8 11-2) the 2015 European champion.
Also in round three Chinaโs CHEN Meng the top seed made a most emphatic start to her campaign she beat Switzerlandโs Rachel MORET the no.48 seed in straight games (11-3 11-6 11-2 11-7).
Plays continues in both the menโs singles and womenโs singles events on Tuesday 27th July; at the end of the day the quarter-finalists in both disciplines will be known.
