Beijing: Germany ensured that at least one non-Asian nation would get a table tennis medal at the Olympics by advancing to the men's team championship final with a 3-2 victory over Japan on Saturday.
Germany will face the winner of China-South Korea semi-final match.
The Chinese hosts are heavy favourites to win that semi-final and the gold in their national sport.
"We will have our fun in the final," German Christian Suss said.
"This was our target. We have nothing to lose. The Chinese have the pressure and we will see what we can do."
On the women's side, China and Singapore will play for the gold, while South Korea and Japan will meet for the bronze.
Along with bringing a hard-driving topspin attack to the table, Germany add more emotional play to the competition, a contrast to the extremely disciplined Asian teams.
The full range of their fist pumps, full-throated shouts and occasional flashes of anger were on display against Japan. In the first game of the first match, the umpire issued Germany's feisty Dimitrij Ovtcharov, No. 14 in the world, with a yellow card for his drawn-out service routine.
Ovtcharov huffed at the umpire but then channelled his anger into a barrage of crisp, low shots that stymied Yo Kan, Japan's top player.
Ovtcharov collapsed on his back after his 11-7, 11-13, 13-11, 9-11, 12-10 win.
Timo Boll, Germany's top player, thrilled his Chinese fans with long-distance smashes in his match against Jun Mizutani.
Boll won 11-5, 8-11, 11-4, 11-7.
Japan overcame Germany in doubles and Kan then beat Suss in topsy-turvy action to force a fifth and deciding match. Boll held his nerve against Seiya Kishikawa, winning 11-7, 10-12, 11-6, 8-11, 11-5.
After the winning point, the German team piled on Boll in a victory celebration more reminiscent of football than table tennis, and the Chinese fans lapped it up.
Comments
0 comment