Chinese duo stunned in table tennis mixed doubles final at Tokyo Olympics

Chinese paddlers Xu Xin (left) and Liu Shiwen react during the match on Monday in Tokyo. Photo: VCG

Japanese pair Jun Mizutani/Mima Ito bagged home a historic gold medal in table tennis mixed doubles after upsetting China's Xu Xin/Liu Shiwen in a seven-set thriller at the Tokyo Olympic Games on Monday.

It is Japan's first Olympic gold medal in table tennis.

The mixed doubles event makes its debut on Olympic stage this time in Tokyo, seeing top two seeds advance to the ­final as expected.

Reigning world champion Xu and Liu heated quick into the game, going ahead 11-5, 11-7 after two sets. However, the host pair put on a fierce fightback from there, winning 11-8, 11-9, 11-9 in the next three sets to turn the tides.

Despite taking away the sixth set 11-6 to force a decider, Xu and Liu could not maintain their momentum afterward, seeing their Japanese rivals race ahead 8-0 en route to 11-6.

Xinhua



Cheung wins fencing gold for HKSAR

Cheung Ka-long celebrates victory on Monday in Tokyo. Photo: VCG

Cheung Ka-long from China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) made history when he defeated Italy's Daniele Garozzo 15-11 to win the men's foil individual gold at the Tokyo Olympics on Monday. The 24-year-old is Hong Kong's first-ever Olympic fencing medalist.

It was Hong Kong's second gold medal in the Olympics in history, and the first since Hong Kong was restored to China.

Alexander Choupenitch of the Czech Republic took bronze.

Xinhua



Bronze in men's team gymnastics

Sun Wei competes in the floor exercise during the men's team final on Monday in Tokyo. Photo: VCG

China's artistic gymnasts team finished third in the men's team all-around final at the Tokyo Olympics on Monday.

The Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) won gold. The ROC team amassed 262.500 points from six apparatus, just 0.103 clear of Japan in second.

China could not recover from the earlier errors and they have to settle for bronze with 261.894 points.

Xinhua



Wang Jianjiahe sets Asian record in women's 1,500m freestyle

Wang Jianjiahe competes in the pool on Monday in Tokyo. Photo: VCG

China's Wang ­Jianjiahe on Monday set a new Asian record in qualifying second for the women's 1,500-­meter freestyle final, with the event appearing on the Olympic stage for the first time.

World record holder Katie Ledecky of the US is the strong favorite to become the first Olympic champion in the event, and qualified first with a new Olympic record of 15 minutes 35.35 seconds.

Wang will swim as second seed to Ledecky, having made 15:41.59 in the heats.

Xinhua



Liao claims silver in weightlifting as Diaz makes history for Philippines at Games

Liao Qiuyun competes on Monday in Tokyo. Photo: VCG

China's Liao Qiuyun had to settle for silver as Hidilyn Diaz became the first-­ever Olympic gold medal winner representing the Philippines ­after triumphing in the women's weightlifting 55 kilograms at the Tokyo Olympic Games on Monday.

Diaz smashed her personal best to see off world record holder Liao.

With Liao setting a target of 223 kilogram, just four kilograms shy of her own world record, Diaz was faced with a final clean and jerk of 127 kilograms to win - fully 5 kilograms more than she had ever achieved in competition.

With a massive effort she hoisted the huge Olympic record weight and the tears of joy began to flow even before she dropped the bar to the floor after a triumphant effort.

Agencies