In the women’s team final of the 2026 World Table Tennis Championships in London, China faced off against Japan in a thrilling showdown. Wang Manyu shook off the disappointment of losing her first match to Miwa Harimoto, delivering a commanding 3-0 victory over Hina Hayata in the deciding fifth match. This win secured a 3-2 overall victory for China, extending their championship streak to seven consecutive titles.
Wang Manyu had previously won all 11 encounters against Miwa Harimoto, including a 4-2 victory at the Haikou Asian Cup and the Singapore Smash in 2026. However, in this crucial match, Harimoto came prepared with a well-thought-out strategy. She aggressively attacked, using her backhand to target Wang’s forehand repeatedly, catching Wang off guard. Harimoto won the first two sets 11-4 and 11-9. Wang fought back to take the next two sets 11-6 and 11-4, leveling the match. But in the decisive fifth set, Harimoto’s powerful offensive paid off, winning 11-4.
In the second match, Sun Yingsha swept Hayata 3-0, while Kuai Man fell to Hashimoto Honoka 1-3 in the third. Sun Yingsha then overwhelmed Harimoto 3-0 in the fourth match to keep China alive. That set the stage for Wang Manyu to face Hayata in the fifth and final match.
Wang Manyu started strong, racing to a 5-0 lead in the opening game, having learned from her earlier slow start against Harimoto. She attacked fiercely with her first three strokes and maintained control, winning 11-7. In the second set, the two players traded points closely. With Wang leading 6-5, Hayata called a timeout. After the pause, Hayata tied the score at 6-6, but Wang responded with three straight points to lead 9-6. Hayata managed one point, but Wang anticipated the attack and scored to reach game point, eventually closing out 11-7. In the third set, Hayata took a 2-0 lead, but Wang answered with four consecutive points. After Hayata scored on a net edge, Wang dominated the rallies and pulled away, winning 11-5 to complete the 3-0 sweep.
Sun Yingsha was the anchor for China throughout the competition, but Wang Manyu made a crucial comeback after her earlier loss, delivering the decisive point in the final match for redemption. After the victory, Wang Manyu smiled broadly, sprinting to the sideline to embrace coach Ma Lin, then high-fiving teammates Chen Xingtong, Kuai Man, Wang Yidi, and especially Sun Yingsha, who exchanged an emphatic and energetic high-five with her. The hard-fought championship made the celebration all the more emotional.
