Paris, August 10, 2024, The Europe Today: China’s men’s table tennis team successfully defended their Olympic title at the Paris 2024 Games, securing a decisive 3-0 victory against Sweden on Friday. The Chinese team, comprising Ma Long, Wang Chuqin, and Fan Zhendong, triumphed in a series of closely contested matches at the South Paris Arena, each ending with a narrow 3-2 win.
This victory marks China’s fifth consecutive men’s team title since the event’s introduction at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, further solidifying the nation’s dominance in the sport. Ma Long, reflecting on the intense competition, described the final against Sweden as one of the most memorable moments of his Olympic career. “The Swedish team has been one of China’s key rivals for decades, so we prepared extensively for the final,” Ma stated.
Earlier in the day, France earned the bronze medal after defeating Japan, marking the host nation’s first-ever medal in team table tennis.
With this victory, Ma Long, now 35, has become the most decorated Chinese Olympian, amassing six gold medals. He expressed gratitude for his Olympic journey, noting, “The past 12 years have been a journey of highs and lows, and I’m incredibly grateful. I’ve played various roles in each Olympics.”
Ma also announced that the Paris 2024 Olympics would be his last, calling the gold medal a “perfect conclusion” to his Olympic career. However, he hinted at a continued presence in international table tennis, saying, “You might still see me on the international table tennis stage in the future.”
China’s men’s team victory follows their earlier successes in the mixed doubles and men’s and women’s singles events, leaving them poised to sweep all five table tennis gold medals at the Paris Olympics, with the women’s team final set to take place on Saturday.
