China sails into men's, women's semis at Asian Table Tennis Team C'ships

NEW DELHI, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese paddlers made debuts at the ITTF-ATTU 28th Asian Table Tennis Team Championships in Bhubaneswar, India on Monday, with China's men's and women's team both claiming victories in the quarterfinals.

15-year-old Benyamin Faraji of Iran shocked world No. 2 Lin Shidong of China 3-2 in the first match of men's team quarterfinals. In the following two matches, China's Liang Jingkun and Wang Chuqin defeated Noshad Alamiyan and Amir Hossein Hodaei 3-1, 3-0 respectively. Lin bounced back in the fourth match to beat Alamiyan 3-0 to seal the team's victory.

China's women's team had an easier win to see off Thailand, as Wang Manyu, Sun Yingsha and Kuai Man all registered a 3-0 win over Thailand's Orawan Paranang, Suthasini Sawettabut and Jinnipa Sawettabut successively.

In the semifinals, China and Japan will set up a clash in the men's team event, while China's women's team will confront South Korea.

A total of 22 men's and 20 women's teams participate in the continental event. For each gender, the top six teams from the previous Asian Championships - including China, Japan and South Korea - received direct entry into the knockout stage.

At the Asian Table Tennis Team Championships, 13 qualification spots per gender for the 2026 ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals in London are on offer.