As the best table tennis playing nation in the world, China confirmed her supremacy globally after winning the men and women event of the ITTF World Team Championships concluded on Sunday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The final match played at the venue of the eight-day tournament in Shah Alam Stadium witnessed presence of fans from Japan and China who were dressed in either red or white shirts.

The fans raised the roof when one of their adored heroines drew breath and hit a ball.

The task for Japan in such a cauldron of noise, one where Japanese voices were reduced to a quiet whisper, was equivalent to King Canute trying to hold back the incoming tide.

Though China was favored, Kong Linghui, the Head Coach of women team, was took no chances.

At the semi-final stage against Chinese Taipei, he had selected one of the new age players in the guise of Zhu Yuling. The 21 year old is currently listed at no.3 on the Women’s World Rankings.

However, true to the best traditions Chinese thinking, the mastermind selected Liu Shiwen, Ding Ning and Li Xiaoxia; all players who had previously experienced a Women’s World Championships Team final.

Notably, Kong Linghui gave Liu Shiwen, the position of responsibility; she was the first player in action for China. Liu Shiwen emerged victorious 11-5, 11-6, 11-8 over Japan’s Ai Fukuhara.

In the second match involving Japan’s Kasumi Ishikawa and China’s Li Xiaoxia, it was the Chinese that laughed last after being trailed by 2-0 but this did not have great effect as Xiaoxia secured victory (6-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-3, 11-5).

A hard fought task, equally in the contest that concluded proceedings, there were some testing times for Ding Ning against Mima Ito who continues amaze; the 15 year old won the first game before the reigning World Champion responded to exert her authority on proceedings (8-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-1).

Once again the Corbillon Cup was held aloft by China with Li Xiaoxia gaining the award for being the most valuable player of all. It was the 13th appearance for Japan in the final of a Women’s Team event at a World Championships, the fifth time they had been runners up.

For China it was the 20th time they had secured the title in 25 final visits.

Also in the men, Chinese trio of Xu Xin, Ma Long and Zhan Jike defeated Japan’s Mizutani Jun, Yoshimura Maharu and Oshima Yuya to claim the title for the Asian giant.