Ma Long – Photo Credit: Wikimedia

China kept alive its chances of maintaining an undefeated Olympic teams’ table tennis record when its women’s and men’s teams easily beat their respective opponents in the semi-finals on Wednesday.

In the men’s team, Ma Long, Xu Xin and Fan Zhendong from China seized the match against Jeoung Youngsik, Lee Sangsu and Jang Woojin from South Korea with a 3-0 win.

While South Korean paddler Lee edged his opponent Ma by scoring two sets in the latter half of the deciding match, he eventually lost steam in the final fifth set to lose 2-3.

Meanwhile, the Chinese women’s trio of Chen Meng, Sun Yingsha and Wang Manyu breezed into the final with a 3-0 win over Germany. Chen and Wang started out the team event with a smash against Germany’s Shan Xiaona and Petrissa Solja thus winning 3-0 in the doubles match.

World number one Sun made quick work of German paddler Han Ying in a 3-0 singles match. This was followed by a 3-1 victory by singles gold medallist Chen over Solja.

China has won all Olympic table tennis team events both for women and men since it was introduced in 2008.