dexinwin TOYOTA, Japan, September 25, 2026— China’s men’s table tennis team suffered a 3-2 defeat to Japan in the men’s team final at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on September 24, ending China’s run of eight consecutive Asian Games titles in the event.
After the match, Chinese men’s team head coach Wang Hao said the result was disappointing, but emphasized that the three players who competed had given everything they could. He also said China’s men’s team is currently going through a period of transition between generations and that young players need opportunities to gain experience in major international competitions.
China Falls Short in a Five-Match Final
China entered the final as the defending champion, while Japan was seeking its first Asian Games men’s team title in six decades.
Wang Chuqin opened the final for China against Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto’s teammate Sora Matsushima. After losing the first two games, Wang fought back to win three straight games and give China an early lead.
In the second match, Wen Ruibo faced Tomokazu Harimoto and lost 3-1, bringing Japan level.
Lin Shidong then defeated Shunsuke Togami 3-1 to put China back in front.
The fourth match saw Wang Chuqin face Harimoto again. Harimoto won 3-0, forcing the final into a deciding fifth match.
Wen Ruibo then faced Matsushima in the decisive match. Matsushima prevailed 3-1, giving Japan a 3-2 victory and the Asian Games gold medal.
China finished with the silver medal.
Wang Hao: The Players Gave Everything
Speaking after the final, Wang Hao first congratulated Japan on its victory.
He said the three Chinese players who took part in the final had given their maximum effort.
“The three players who competed today gave everything they had,” Wang said, while noting that matches do not always develop according to pre-match expectations.
Wang also acknowledged the efforts of players who did not compete in the final but supported the team from the sidelines.
He said the team would review the match carefully and then quickly shift its attention to the individual events still to come at the Asian Games.
Lineup Changes Were Not a Last-Minute Decision
The lineup used in the final attracted considerable attention because the positions of China’s second and third players changed during the knockout stage.
Wen Ruibo had played as the third player in the semifinal, but was moved to the second position for the final, while Lin Shidong took the third position.
Wang said the change was not a last-minute decision.
According to the coach, the coaching staff had already considered possible scenarios for the final during the semifinal stage and prepared different lineup options in advance.
He explained that one of the considerations was to give younger players experience in high-pressure international matches.
For young athletes, Wang said, simply experiencing the semifinal and final stages of a major event can provide lessons that cannot be fully replicated in training.
China’s Men’s Team Is in a Generational Transition
The issue of generational transition was central to Wang’s post-match comments.
He said China’s men’s team is currently in a period of transition, with several players experiencing the Asian Games for the first time.
Wang noted that China’s previous successes were built by generations of champion players. The current task is to help younger athletes gradually take on greater responsibilities and challenge themselves at major international events.
He also said the young players’ performances were better than he had expected.
Although China lost the final, Wang said the team had opportunities in both knockout matches and that the young players still needed to improve their experience, ability to handle key points and capacity to manage the pressure of major competitions.
Wang Hao Calls for Room to Make Mistakes
Wang said young players need a certain amount of room to make mistakes as they develop.
In his view, athletes can only develop the ability to handle pressure by actually experiencing major international matches, including situations in which they lead, fall behind, face match points or play deciding games.
“This stage is about giving young athletes room to make mistakes and allowing them to accumulate experience in major competitions,” Wang said.
He also called for greater understanding of the pressures faced by young players and the coaching staff.
The players, he said, train and compete under significant pressure, while coaches spend much of their time with the team.
Travel and Accommodation Were Not an Excuse
Wang was also asked about concerns surrounding the team’s accommodation and travel arrangements after arriving in Nagoya.
He acknowledged that the team arrived late and checked into its hotel relatively late, while the journey between the hotel and competition venue was relatively long.
However, he said those circumstances should not be regarded as the reason for the defeat.
“These are all part of competition,” Wang said, adding that teams have to accept different circumstances at major events and prepare accordingly.
He therefore did not attribute the result to external logistical factors.
Japan’s Young Players Make Their Mark
Japan’s young generation played a decisive role in the final.
Harimoto won both of his matches against China, while Matsushima won the deciding fifth match against Wen Ruibo.
Their performances helped Japan secure its first Asian Games men’s team title in 60 years.
The result also provided another example of the increasingly competitive environment surrounding the younger generation of Asian table tennis players.
For China, the final offered its own test for younger athletes who are being integrated into the national team system.
Turning a Setback Into Experience
Despite the defeat, Wang said the team should not remain focused on the disappointment.
He described the players and coaches as a collective group that shares both victories and defeats.
The key task now, he said, is to learn from the experience and use it to support future development.
Wang expressed hope that the setback could ultimately become a positive experience for the team and that the players would regain confidence and continue competing in upcoming major events.
China’s defeat ended its eight-title winning streak in the Asian Games men’s team event, while Japan secured the gold medal.
For Wang and his players, however, the tournament continues through the individual events. The immediate focus has shifted from the disappointment of the team final to preparing for the next matches and helping the younger generation gain further experience on the international stage.
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