Japan ended China's eight-consecutive-title dominance in men's table tennis at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya on Thursday, 24 September, winning a gripping final 3-2 to claim the men's team title for the first time in 60 years. In the women's final played the same day, China defeated Japan 3-0 to secure its sixth consecutive Asian Games women's team crown.

Japan's Historic Men's Final Win

Sora Matsushima delivered the decisive blow, beating 19-year-old Wen Ruibo 3-1 in the fifth and final rubber to seal Japan's victory. The tie had earlier been poised on a knife's edge after China opened strongly through world No. 1 Wang Chuqin, who rallied from two games down against Matsushima to win 3-2 — taking the last three sets by identical 11-9 scores after losing the first two 11-5 and 11-8.

Tomokazu Harimoto levelled the tie by defeating Wen 3-1, before Lin Shidong put China back ahead at 2-1 with a 3-1 win over Shunsuke Togami. Harimoto then produced a commanding display to topple Wang 11-7, 11-4, 11-9 in the fourth rubber, forcing the decider. Matsushima closed out Japan's triumph with a 3-1 defeat of Wen, sparking jubilant celebrations on the Nagoya arena floor.

China's Tactical Reshuffle and Coach's Response

China coach Wang Hao had adjusted his lineup ahead of the final, moving Wen into the second singles position — a decision that arguably backfired as Wen faced Matsushima twice. Wang Hao was candid after the defeat. 'The result of the event was not what we had hoped for, and there are certainly things I could have done better personally,' he said. 'But the tournament is not over yet. I hope everyone, myself included, can quickly regroup, put this result behind us and focus on the competitions ahead.'

Harimoto explained that Japan had prepared to handle any Chinese lineup variation. 'We didn't know whether Wen or Lin would play twice, but we felt it didn't really matter to us,' he said. 'Our preparation was to be ready for whoever we faced and focus on doing our own job well.' South Korea and Chinese Taipei shared the men's team bronze medal.

China Women Claim Sixth Straight Title

China's women showed no such vulnerability. Sun Yingsha opened the final with a 3-1 win over Hina Hayata, before world No. 1 Wang Manyu survived a nervy 3-2 battle with Miwa Harimoto, clinching the decider 12-10. Kuai Man then completed the whitewash with a 3-0 defeat of Mima Ito.

Wang Manyu credited collective resolve as the key factor. 'Our unity is also very strong. Everyone is working toward the same goal of winning,' she said. 'That invisible support gave us the confidence to believe we could win when we found ourselves in difficult situations.' DPR Korea and South Korea shared the women's bronze.

Doubles Action Also Underway

With individual and doubles events now in progress, China's Kuai Man and Wang beat Kazakhstan's Angelina Romanovskaya and Albina Zhaxylykova 3-0 to advance to the women's doubles last 16. Compatriots Fan Shuhan and Chen Yi dispatched DPR Korea's Kim Kum Yong and Cha Su Yong 3-1. Japan's Tomokazu Harimoto and Hina Hayata also progressed after a 3-0 win over Thailand's Kulapassr Vijitviriyagul and Phatsaraphon Wonglakhon.

With individual events still to be contested, all eyes will be on whether Japan can extend its remarkable resurgence and whether China's women — and the likes of Wang Chuqin on the men's side — can reassert their authority in the days ahead.