TOKYO (AFP, REUTERS) – Japanese mixed doubles pair Jun Mizutani and Mima Ito claimed their country’s first ever Olympic table tennis gold medal on Monday (July 26), ending years of Chinese dominance with a remarkable comeback victory on home soil.
China had won every Olympic title in the sport since a men’s singles triumph for South Korean Ryu Seung-min in the 2004 Athens Games, but Xu Xin and Liu Shinwen blew a two-game lead in a thrilling final in Tokyo.
Mizutani and Ito raced into an 8-0 lead in the deciding game and closed it out when Xin hit a return into the net, with the Japanese pair winning 5-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-9, 6-11, 11-6.
