In a thrilling repeat of the Busan World Team Table Tennis Championships final from two years ago, the Chinese women’s team faced off against Japan in the London final, once again going the full five matches. On the evening of May 10, China rallied from behind twice to secure a 3-2 victory over Japan, claiming their seventh straight title and lifting the Corbillon Cup for the 24th time in team history.
Sun Ying Sha was the standout performer, earning two crucial points to power China to victory. The Chinese team had previously lifted the cup 23 times, while Japan, with eight titles, remains the second most successful nation. Over the past Olympic cycles, Japan has emerged as China’s primary challenger, with the two teams meeting in the women’s team final at every World Championship since 2014.
Ahead of the final, Sun Ying Sha acknowledged Japan’s strength, noting their mix of left-handed, right-handed, and defensive chopper players. She stressed that China had prepared thoroughly during closed training and that mental composure would be key. “We are very close in level, so mindset is crucial on the court. We will give it our all and fight without hesitation. First, believe in ourselves; second, trust our teammates,” she said.
China fielded Sun Ying Sha, Wang Manyu, and Kuai Man, while Japan countered with Hina Hayata, Miwa Harimoto, and chopper Honoka Hashimoto. The match started with a setback for China as Wang Manyu lost 2-3 to Harimoto after trailing 0-2. Sun Ying Sha then leveled the score with a commanding 3-0 victory over Hayata, maintaining her unbeaten record in 19 meetings. In the third match, debutant Kuai Man fell 1-3 to Hashimoto, putting China behind 1-2.
This mirrored the situation from Busan, where China also trailed 1-2. Once again, Sun Ying Sha stepped up, dominating Harimoto 3-0 in the top singles duel to tie the score. Throughout the tournament, Sun maintained a perfect 9-0 record. In the decisive match, Wang Manyu faced Hayata, having won all five previous encounters. Despite her earlier loss, Wang stayed composed and defeated Hayata 3-0 to secure the championship.
After the match, Sun Ying Sha described the final as a rollercoaster, praising Japan’s strong performance. She highlighted Wang Manyu’s resilience in bouncing back from her first-match loss to clinch the victory. Sun also expressed gratitude to the fans who supported the team in London and to the entire Chinese table tennis program. “Every team competition is tough, but we gave it everything. Today, three of us played on the court, but behind us are all the members of the Chinese table tennis team. This championship belongs to everyone,” she said.