China stay on course
China closed on a clean sweep after reaching the men's and women's table tennis team finals.
Last Updated: 07/08/12 1:53am
Zhang Jike, Wang Hao and Ma Long carried China into the final of the men's team event on Monday - keeping alive the chances of a Chinese gold medal sweep in table tennis.
The Asian powerhouse has set out to claim a maximum haul of four golds and two silvers from London 2012 and they remain on course to do just that.
Zhang, Wang and Ma did not have it all their own way against a determined Germany, whose trio comprised of world number seven Timo Boll, singles bronze medallist Dimitrij Ovtcharov and Bastian Steger.
Yet China emerged 3-1 victors to seal a place in Wednesday's final, where they will meet South Korea, who conquered Hong Kong in the last four at the ExCeL.
Things started promisingly for Germany as, after being edged out in a tight opening game, Ovtcharov levelled matters against Ma.
But the world number two delivered when it mattered, winning the third game following a quite brilliant return with the score locked at 9-9.
Ma went on to claim victory, only for Boll to drag the European side back into it by beating singles gold medallist Zhang 3-1.
Yet even the world's best falling to defeat did not stop China, with Zhang and Wang then combining to take the doubles versus Boll and Steger.
Ma finished the job against the latter to leave his nation, having claimed gold and silver in the men's and women's singles, on course to achieve their ultimate aim.
South Korea, 3-0 winners over Hong Kong, will be China's final opponents on Wednesday.
Earlier in the day, Li Xiaoxia, Ding Ning and Guo Yue booked China's place in the women's team final with a 3-0 win over South Korea.
Olympic champion Li delivered the first blow, overcoming Seok Ha-jung in straight games before Ding Ning repeated the trick against Kim Kyung-ah.
Li and Guo then finished the job by brushing aside Seok and Dang Ye-seo.
The Chinese wll face Japan in Tuesday's final.