Table tennis. World Team Championships: Beaten by China, the French settle for bronze

China – France

3-1

Beaten by China on Saturday in London at the end of a thrilling evening (3-1), the French led by the Lebrun brothers were stopped in the semifinals of the World Table Tennis Team Championships. Two years after winning silver in Busan, South Korea, and after a loss to the Chinese giants (3-0), the French team this time succumbed to the world number one nation a little further in the competition. They will have to settle for bronze, while the country of “ping pong” seemed more accessible in recent times.

It was also evident on Saturday in an evening of nearly three hours marked by all emotions: the relief of number one Wang Chuqin, who was rarely challenged (3-2) by the young 18-year-old Flavien Coton.

The gap narrows between France and China

Then, the confidence displayed by Félix Lebrun, almost imperious, in front of Lin Shidong (3-0). Or the confidence gradually lost on the side of Alexis Lebrun, overturned by Liang Jingkun (3-2) in the third match, while the Montpellier player had two match points.

Then came the disappointment, and perhaps the regrets, which marked the faces of the French after Félix Lebrun’s final defeat against Wang Chuqin (3-1). The latter simply never lost to the French present at the table today, in 16 matches. And this even though Flavien Coton offered a high-level match, even leading 2-1 within a Wembley Arena filled mostly with Chinese supporters.

Undefeated in the competition since 2001, always reaching the final since 1991, the Chinese will once again be at the appointment on Sunday, against Japan, another title contender. For the reigning European champions, it is a missed opportunity, even though the evening also showed that the gap is gradually narrowing between the two nations. Not enough for this Saturday night.