World Team Table Tennis Championships 2026: Japan and People's Republic of China set for sixth straight women's final

Japan and the People's Republic of China will meet in the women's final at the 2026 World Team Table Tennis Championships after both nations dispatched their semi-final opponents 3-0 on Saturday (9 May) to set up a sixth consecutive gold medal showdown between the two Asian powerhouses.

China are now one win away from a 24th women’s team title, while Japan will look to end their rivals’ long-standing dominance on the world stage.

Japan 3-0 Germany

Japan's unbeaten run at the tournament continued as they defeated Germany, with Harimoto Miwa getting things underway despite an early scare. The 17-year-old dropped the opening game against Rio 2016 Olympic silver medallist Han Ying - the first game she'd conceded in London - but regrouped following a crucial time-out while trailing in the second, turning the match around to win 5-11, 12-10, 11-3, 11-8 and put Japan 1-0 up.

The second match proved decisive as Hayata Hina fought back from two games down to defeat Germany’s Sabine Winter in dramatic fashion.

Winter, ranked world No.9, appeared in control after taking the opening two games, but Hayata responded with an aggressive and composed display to complete a 10-12, 6-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-6 comeback victory.

“We knew it was going to be a tough match against Germany, and it was especially difficult for both Harimoto and me,” Hayata told Olympics.com.

“Winter was really in good form, but I was able to stay calm and adapt the way I needed to play against her. It was a match that either side could have won, but I focused on myself. That was the key to the win.”

Hashimoto Honoka then sealed Japan’s place in the final with a straight-games (11-8, 11-5, 11-5) win over Nina Mittelham.

Japan will now attempt to go one step further than two years ago, when they finished runners-up to China.

“Two years ago, losing in the final was a very bitter experience for us,” Harimoto said. “Having the chance to compete in the final again, we’ll give 100 percent for getting a gold medal.”

China 3-0 Romania

China's route to the final was equally convincing as the team produced a flawless display against Romania.

Three-time Olympic gold medallist and world No.1 Sun Yingsha opened proceedings against Elizabeta Samara, sweeping her aside 11-3, 11-4, 11-5 to remain unbeaten in London.

World No.2 Wang Manyu then faced Romania's standout player, Bernadette Szocs, in a match that proved tighter than the scoreline suggests. Wang controlled the opening game, but Szocs grew into the tie and gave her genuine problems in the second, leading 5-8 at one stage. Wang steadied, took the game, and when the third reached its climax — with Szocs holding a game point — it was Wang who came through 11-4, 11-9, 12-10.

Kuai Man completed the sweep by defeating Andreea Dragoman 12-10, 11-6, 12-10, setting up Sunday’s 11:00 BST final against Japan — a rematch of the Paris 2024 Olympic women’s team gold medal contest won by China.

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