Faced with the number 1 power in world table tennis, there was no exploit for the French women’s team, Friday morning in the semi-finals of the World Team Championships in Busan (South Korea) . Les Bleues lost against China (3-0).
First medal since 1991
They will therefore leave the Worlds with a bronze medal around their neck. In this competition, there is no match for third place. The two teams beaten in the half both receive a bronze medal. For the French women’s team, it’s a first podium at the World Team Championships since 1991. Quite a performance that the Blues achieved this week in South Korea.
But China proved too strong. In the first match of the series, Sun Yingsha, the reigning world singles champion and world No. 1, defeated Prithika Pavade in three sets (11-5, 11-8, 14-12). Then Chen Meng, Olympic champion in Tokyo in 2021, won against Yuan Jianan in four sets (11-6, 10-12, 11-8, 11-4).
Taiwan or Germany for the French
Finally Wang Yidi, reigning world doubles champion, dominated Charlotte Lutz in three sets (11-5, 16-14, 11-4. The Chinese team, which has held the world title since 2012, is now waiting to know his opponent. It will be Japan or Hong Kong, who will face each other in the morning.
The French men’s team, also qualified for the semi-finals and therefore assured of a medal (the first since 1997), will not play this Friday. But she will closely follow the quarter-final between Taiwan and Germany. The winner will be his opponent on Saturday.