Silver medallists in the women’s team event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on Thursday 5th August Germany fell one step short of a podium place at Tokyo 2020; the no.3 seeds they experienced a 3-1 defeat in the bronze medal fixture when opposing Hong Kong China the no.4 seeds.
An astute change of plan by LI Ching the Hong Kong coach was a major reason for Germany’s undoing.
Previously LEE Ho Ching and Minnie Soo Wai YAM had formed the doubles partnership; against Germany LEE Ho Ching paired with DOO Hoi Kem.
It meant that Minnie Soo Wai YAM would play the potential two singles matches. Significantly in the second match she would oppose the defensive skills of HAN Ying. Minnie Soo Wai Yam is adept against the backspin art.
If the same doubles as previously had been selected DOO Hoi Kem would have competed in the second match. DOO Hoi Kem is a fine player but in the past has found such a style not to her liking. Li Ching could be confident Germany would not change their doubles pairing; HAN Ying’s style complements neither Shan Xiaona nor Petrissa SOLJA. Furthermore they are the reigning European champions.
SHAN Xiaona and Petrissa SOLJA beat DOO Hoi Kem and Lee Ho Ching to give Hong Kong the ideal start but that was the sum total of their success (8-11 11-5 11-7 15-13).
In the second match of the fixture Minnie Soo Wai YAM overcame HAN Ying in four games (12-10 9-11 11-9 11-7) to turn the tide.
Time and again Germany has relied on HAN Ying winning both her singles matches; for Germany it was a major blow.
Doo Hoi Kem proved too consistent for Petrissa SOLJA winning in straight games (11-5 11-6 11-9); immediately following Minnie Soo Wai YAM beat SHAN Xiaona to end matters (12-10 13-11 11-7).
Later in the day China secured women’s team gold the top seeds they recorded a 3-0 win in opposition to Japan the no.2 seeds to reserve the second step of the podium.
CEHN Meng and WANG Manyu beat Miu HIRANO and Kasumi Ishikawa in four games (9-11 11-6 11-8 11-7) to set the scene.
Sun Yingsha who had overcome Mima ITO at the semi-final stage of the women’s singles event (11-3 11-9 11-6 11-4) repeated the feat (11-8 11-5 3-11 11-3) before Wang Manyu accounted for Miu Hirano to end matters (11-5 11-9 11-3).
China has won the women’s team title on every occasion since the event was first held in Beijing in 2008; furthermore they have never surrendered a single game the record reads 51-0!
Matters conclude on Friday 6th August with the men’s team medal events:
Bronze medal: Japan (3) versus Korea Republic (4) Gold medal: China (1) versus Germany (2)
