China's Ding Ning reacts during women's team semifinal of Table Tennis against Singapore at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Aug. 15, 2016. China won 3-0. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)
RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Table tennis powerhouses China have been ready to repeat the gold medal sweeping in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, just as they did in Beijing and London, after both men's and women's teams reached the finals on Monday.
With Grand Slam winners Zhang Jike and Ma Long playing the opening two singles, the Chinese men's team beat last edition's silver medalists South Korea in three straight sets.
They will mark the final step of defending the team title on Wednesday against Japan, who outclassed the former world and Olympic team runners-up Germany 3-1 in the other semifinal on Monday.
China have won two team golds of the Olympics since the event's introduction to Beijing 2008, while Japan just made history by reaching the first final of men's play in an Olympic table tennis tourney.
Zhang Jike made his first singles play of the team event in Monday evening's semifinal against South Korea's top-ranked Jeoung Youngish, who forced a 13-13 tie in the first set and won it 15-13 before Zhang pulled one set back 13-11 through hard work.
Overcoming a sudden injury mid-way into the third set which he lost 11-9, Zhang, who was declined a medical timeout by Lebanon umpire Imad Merheb, launched a late comeback with his trademark backhand play and fewer errors to win the last two 11-8, 11-4.
The following games went smoothly with Ma Long breezing past 36-year-old Korean chopper Joo Saehyuk 11-1, 11-4, 11-4 and Zhang Jike pairing up with penholder Xu Xin to defeat Jeoung and Lee Sangsu 11-8, 12-10, 11-6.
Earlier on Monday morning, the Chinese women's team claimed another 3-0 victory over former runners-up Singapore to set up a clash on Tuesday with Germany, the debutants to an Olympic table tennis final.
