Story perspectives

Japan Ends China’s 32-Year Streak With Asian Games Gold

By Drooid · Sep 25, 2026, 6:24 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Japan’s men’s table tennis team defeated China 3-2 to claim Asian Games gold, ending China’s 32-year streak.
It was Japan’s first men’s team gold since 1966.
Sora Matsushima won the decisive fifth match, beating Wen Ruibo 3-1 (11-7, 8-11, 11-6, 11-8).
Tomokazu Harimoto blanked world No. 1 Wang Chuqin 3-0 in the fourth match, leveling the tie.

History

Historical Context

Table-tennis debuted at the September-October 1990 Asian Games in Beijing, and China’s Olympic success since the sport’s 1988 debut—marked by frequent medal sweeps—cemented its regional supremacy. That dominance persisted through successive Asian Games. In 2023 Japan’s Sora Matsushima and Tomokazu Harimoto defeated China’s Wen Ruibo and world No. 1 Wang Chuqin, ending the streak and suggesting a shift.

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Story summary

Japan’s men’s table tennis team defeated China 3-2 to claim Asian Games gold, ending China’s 32-year streak.
It was Japan’s first men’s team gold since 1966.
Sora Matsushima won the decisive fifth match, beating Wen Ruibo 3-1 (11-7, 8-11, 11-6, 11-8).
Tomokazu Harimoto blanked world No. 1 Wang Chuqin 3-0 in the fourth match, leveling the tie.

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