Team China celebrate after defeating Japan in the women's final at the World Team Table Tennis Championships in Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan Province on October 8, 2022. Photo: VCG

China overcame Japan in straight matches to claim its fifth consecutive title in the women's table tennis team competition at the 2022 World Team Table Tennis Championships in Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan Province on Saturday.

It was also a record-extending 22nd time for China to have lifted the Corbillon Cup in history, said the Xinhua News Agency.

Chen Meng got past Miyuu Kihara 11-6, 11-8, 11-8 in the first match. In the second, Wang Manyu defeated Mima Ito in four games before eventually winning 11-9, 9-11, 12-10, 11-5.

Sun Yingsha, the current world number one, sealed gold after defeating Miyu Nagasaki 11-7, 11-7, 11-8 in the third match.

"I've been preparing for a long time for today's final. Ito did play very well," Wang said in an interview after the match. "But I had belief in myself. I have to win no matter how excellent she performs."

This is the seventh consecutive match between China and Japan in the finals.

In the men's team, China edged Japan 3-2 in the semifinals on Saturday.

Fan Zhendong played first for China against Shunsuke Togami. Fan began the first game with an early lead of 5-1 and did not allow the opponent to pull within two points of deficit. It didn't take him long to win this game 11-5, Chinese media reported.

The second game was much closer as Togami seized the initial with sharp backhand attacks to lead 7-5. But Fan gained the momentum back with quick changing of line and tied the score 10-10. He then served to score first and began another counter-loop battle before Togami's last hit failed to touch the table.

Having won the second game 12-10, Fan continued his winning streak, claiming the third game 11-4 and placing China on a 1-0 lead.

The second match happened between Wang Chuqin and Tomokazu Harimoto. Wang managed to take the first game 11-8, but he couldn't cope with Harimoto's quick backhand attacks and lost the following three games 8-11, 6-11, 9-11. Japan tied the score 1-1 in general.

Ma Long played against Mizuki Oikawa in the third match. He lost the first game 8-11. But after warming up, he began to exploit his forceful forehand attacks to secure two fast wins, both 11-5. Oikawa trailed 0-7 in the fourth game and only scored two points before losing 2-11.

Fan met Harimoto in the fourth match. Harimoto took the first game 11-7.

Fan began to pressure more with his forehand attacks in the second game. Harimoto made many mistakes in handling them and soon lost this game 6-11. Fan continued strong in the third game and completely pinned Harimoto down before taking it 11-3.

The fourth game sped up, which was Harimoto's favorite pace. 

Fan soon trailed 1-5. Though he managed to pull it within one point (10-9), he still lost this game. The fourth game turned white-out from the beginning and the score jumped from one draw to another until it reached 7-7. In the end, Harimoto beat Fan again to win this game 11-9, tying the score 2-2 for Japan.

China will play Germany in the final on Sunday.