Timo Boll made up for his two-game defeat which failed Germany in the team semifinals two days ago, winning two games to help the European table tennis power secure a bronze at the Rio Games on Wednesday.

The 35-year-old veteran coming on court late as the third singles, Germany took almost four hours to beat South Korea 3-1 in the men's team third-place match.

South Korea's top player Jeoung Youngsik and Germany's anchor Dimitrij Ovtcharov both scored one in the opening two games before Boll paired up with Bastian Steger to beat Jeoung and his partner Lee Sangsu.

The former world No. 1, top ranked in March 2011, then sealed the victory for Germany, wrapping up his singles game 3-0 as the previous three games all ended up in five sets.

The team event was included in Olympic Games in place of doubles in Beijing 2008 and it has been the second time that the German men's team had won a bronze medal.

The all-time leading Chinese team will try to defend their title against Japan, who had reached the table tennis men's team final for the first time.