LONDON (AP) — China delivered one of its most pressure-packed gold medals of the London Olympics on Wednesday, completing the sweep of all four table tennis titles with a victory 3-0 over South Korea in the men’s team final.
The sweep was expected, and anything less could have prompted shakeups in the government bureaucracy that oversees the sport. Table tennis is a source of national pride in China with some jokingly calling it “China ball.”
China has won 24 of 28 gold medals since the sport entered the Olympic schedule in 1988. The Asians won two gold and two silvers this time in singles. They could have won more, but nations this time were limited to two singles players instead of three.
China also took the women’s team gold on Tuesday.
