China defeated South Korea 3-0 on 22 October 2026 to clinch its fourth consecutive men's team title at the 2026 ITTF-ATTU Asian Table Tennis Championships in Tashkent, while Japan produced a stunning comeback to beat China 3-2 in the women's team final on the same day. The results underline both China's continued dominance in the men's draw and a growing competitive threat from Japan on the women's side.

China's Men's Dominance Continues

China's men's squad extended an unbroken run of Asian Championship titles that now stretches back to 2023, winning the crown despite fielding a notably youthful lineup. Several established stars — including Wang Chuqin, Sun Yingsha, and Wang Manyu — were absent, as Chinese selectors used the tournament to accelerate a generational transition ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

China advanced to the final with a 3-1 semifinal win over Chinese Taipei. In the other semifinal, South Korea caused a surprise by eliminating Japan 3-1, despite Japan's lineup featuring world No. 1 Sora Matsushima and third-ranked Tomokazu Harimoto.

How the Men's Final Unfolded

Zhou Qihao gave China the early advantage, defeating South Korean defensive specialist Kang Dong-soo 3-1. Lin Shidong extended the lead with a clinical 3-0 sweep of Park Gyu-hyeon. Xiang Peng then sealed the title with a 3-1 victory over Park Gang-hyeon, completing a commanding final performance that required no match-five drama.

Japan's Women Stun China in Five

The women's final produced a far tighter contest. Japan fell to 2-1 down before rallying to win 3-2, with Honoka Hashimoto delivering the decisive blow in the fifth match. Both finalists had entered with identical 3-0 semifinal scorelines — China over South Korea and Japan over Chinese Taipei.

Japan opened the scoring when Hashimoto swept Chen Yi in straight games, but Wang Yidi levelled by edging Miwa Harimoto in a five-game contest. Kuai Man then put China within touching distance of the title, defeating Hina Hayata 3-0. Miwa Harimoto kept Japan alive by beating Chen in straight games, forcing a fifth and deciding match. Hashimoto rose to the occasion once more, beating Wang 3-1 to complete the comeback.

Doubles Competitions Still Ongoing

China's pairs had a strong showing in the doubles events, with all six Chinese pairs advancing. In mixed doubles, Huang Youzheng and Chen Yi defeated Thailand's Thitaphat Preechayan and Kulapassr Vijitviriyagul 3-1 to reach the quarterfinals, while Yuan Licen and Wang Yidi beat Hong Kong, China's Yiu Kwan To and Ng Wing Lam 3-0 to advance to the last eight. In men's doubles, Lin Shidong and Huang Youzheng, as well as Wen Ruibo and Yuan Licen, secured spots in the round of 16. The mixed doubles champions are set to be crowned on Friday, 23 October.

What It Means for Los Angeles 2028

China's decision to rest senior stars and promote younger players signals a deliberate Olympic-cycle strategy. Winning the men's title without its top-ranked players reinforces the depth of the Chinese programme. For Japan, the women's title — achieved by defeating China in a five-match final — will boost confidence considerably ahead of the next Olympic cycle. The result suggests the gap between the two Asian powers on the women's side is narrowing.