Olympic Media Notes: Wednesday 4th August Day Eleven Highlights: Tuesday 3rd August Men’s Team: Quarter-Final Japan (3) 3-1 Sweden (5) Tomokazu Harimoto (JPN) and Koki Niwa (JPN) emerged as the players to guide Japan to the quarter-finals. They combined to secure the doubles at the expense of Anton Källberg and Kristian Karlsson (SWE) in four games (11-8, 13-11, 8-11, 11-9). In the third match of the fixture, Tomokazu Harimoto (JPN) beat Anton Källberg (SWE) by a similar margin (10-12, 11-9, 11-9, 12-10). Koki Niwa (JPN) accounted for Mattias Falck (SWE) to conclude matters (12-10, 11-5, 11-6). Mattias Falck (SWE) secured the one win for Sweden; in the second match of the engagement, he beat Jun Mizutani (JPN) in four games (11-3, 11-9, 10-12, 11-8). It was the first time he had beaten Jun Mizutani (JPN) on the international stage. He had lost both previous encounters. Men’s Team: Quarter-Final Germany (2) 3-2 Chinese Taipei (7) Lin Yun-Ju (TPE) remained unbeaten for Chinese Taipei. In the second match of the fixture, he beat Dimitrij Ovtcharov (GER) and thus avenged the men’s singles bronze medal defeat (10-12, 14-12, 7-11, 12-14, 11-7). Later, in the fourth match, he accounted for Patrick Franziska (GER) in straight games (11-9, 13-11, 11-6). Timo Boll and Patrick Franziska (GER) beat Chen Chien-An and Chuang Chih-Yuan (TPE) in the opening match (11-0, 6-11, 11-6, 12-10). Timo Boll (GER) overcame Chen Chien-An (TPE) in the third match of the engagement (11-4, 11-4, 11-6). Dimitrij Ovtcharov (GER) accounted for Chuang Chih-Yuan (TPE) in the vital fifth match (11-8, 11-9, 11-7) to seal the victory; it was their 11th meeting on the international stage, Dimitrij Ovtcharov (GER) has now won nine times. Women’s Team: Quarter-Final Germany (3) 3-2 Korea Republic (7) Han Ying (GER) was the mainstay of the German win. In the second match, she beat Choi Hyojoo (KOR) in straight games (11-3, 11-3, 11-8). Later in the fourth match, she overcame Shin Yubin (KOR) to level matters (11-6, 10-12, 11-6, 11-9). Shin Yubin and Jeon Jihee (KOR) gave the Korea Republic the ideal start by beating Shan Xiaona and Petrissa Solja (GER), the reigning European champions (9-11, 11-8, 6-11, 11-6, 11- 8). The additional win for the Korea Republic was secured by Jeon Jihee (KOR); in the third match, she overcame Petrissa Solja (GER) in straight games (11-6, 13-11, 11-3). Shan Xiaona (GER) beat Choi Hyojoo (KOR) in the vital fifth match (11-8, 11-6, 11-9) to secure the semi-final place. Women’s Team: Quarter-Final China (1) 3-0 Singapore (6) Chen Meng (CHN) and Wang Manyu (CHN) formed the doubles pairing; they beat Lin Ye and Yu Mengyu (SGP) to give China the perfect start (11-5, 11-7, 11-5). Page 1 The selection gave Wang Manyu (CHN), who had not played in the women’s singles, an opportunity to compete in two matches; she beat Lin Ye (SGP) to bring matters to a conclusion (6-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-5). Sandwiched in between Sun Yingsha (CHN) accounted for Feng Tianwei (SGP) in clinical style (11-8, 11-3, 11-8). Women’s Team: Semi-Final Japan (2) 3-0 Hong Kong China (4) A very focused Japanese team entered the arena; Miu Hirano and Kasumi Ishikawa (JPN) achieved the perfect start; they beat Lee Ho Ching and Minnie Soo Wai Yam (HKG) in straight games (11-7, 11-2, 11-8). Mima Ito (JPN) doubled the advantage overcoming Doo Hoi Kem (HKG) with the loss of the second game (11-9, 9-11, 11-1, 11-7). Mima Ito (JPN) has now won six of the ten matches played at international level against Doo Hoi Kem (HKG). Miu Hirano (JPN) accounted for Lee Ho Ching (HKG) to end matters (12-10, 11-7, 11-3); it was the seventh time in eight meetings in the international arena when Miu Hirano (JPN) had beaten Lee Ho Ching (HKG). Looking Ahead 10.00 Women’s Team Semi-Final: China (Chen Meng, Sun Yingsha, Wang Manyu) v Germany (Han Ying, Shan Xiaona, Petrissa Solja) China occupies the top-seeded spot, Germany, the no.3 seeds. The fixture was a repeat of the final at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games when China recorded a 3-0 win. The German team is the same, but the Chinese line-up is very different; in Rio de Janeiro, it was Ding Ning (CHN), Li Xiaoxia (CHN) and Liu Shiwen (CHN). In Tokyo it is Chen Meng (CHN), Sun Yingsha (CHN), Wang Manyu (CHN). No member of the Chinese team on duty in the contest has been troubled, either in the women’s team or women’s singles events, by foreign opposition. They have a range of options for the doubles selection, but likely they will choose Sun Yingsha and Wang Manyu (CHN). No doubt Shan Xiaona and Petrissa Solja (GER) will form the doubles pair for Germany; thus, in the second match of the fixture Cheng Meng (CHN) will confront Han Ying (GER). At the quarter-final stage, Petrissa Solja (GER) did not enjoy the best of fortunes. Partnering Shan Xiaona (GER), the duo lost to Shin Yubin and Jeon Jihee (KOR). In her singles match, Solja was beaten by Jeon Jihee (KOR). 14.30 Men’s Team Semi-Final: China (Fan Zhendong, Ma Long, Xu Xin) v Korea Republic (Jang Woojin, Jeoung Youngsik, Lee Sangsu) China reserves the top-seeded position, Korea Republic the no.4 seeds No doubt China will continue with the doubles format of Ma Long and Xu Xin (CHN). The tried and trusted formation for the Korea Republic is Jeoung Youngsik and Lee Sangsu (KOR). Fan Zhendong (CHN) may well meet Jang Woojin (KOR) in the second match of the fixture; Fan Zhendong (CHN) has won all five previous meetings on the international scene against Jang Woojin (KOR). Page 2 19.30 Men’s Team Semi-Final: Germany (Timo Boll, Patrick Franziska, Dimitrij Ovtcharov) v Japan (Tomokazu Harimoto, Jun Mizutani, Koki Niwa) Germany will no doubt field Timo Boll and Patrick Franziska (GER) in the doubles. Japan has a choice with the doubles; there are two possibilities to realise the favoured left and right-hand combination; either Jun Mizutani (JPN) or Koki Niwa (JPN) could partner Tomokazu Harimoto (JPN). Timo Boll (GER) has the experience. He could make the difference. It is a big occasion for Tomokazu Harimoto (JPN), who is only 18 years old. Equally, it is a big occasion for Patrick Franziska (GER), competing in his first Olympic Games. Koki Niwa (JPN) was comfortably beaten by Dimitrij Ovtcharov (GER) in the men’s singles event. Event Fast Facts In both the men’s team and women’s team events, proceedings have advanced according to seeding. At the semi-final stage of the men’s team event, China (1) meets Korea Republic (4), Germany (2) opposes Japan (3). In the women’s team event, China (1) opposes Germany (3), for the winner Japan (3) awaits, for the losers in the bronze medal fixture it is Hong Kong (4). Player Fast Facts The four semi-finalists in the men’s team event have competed in every Olympic Games since the competition was introduced in Beijing (2008). China has consistently reached the men’s team event semi-final and progressed to win gold. Ma Long (CHN) was a member of the men’s team in London (2012) and Rio de Janeiro (2016). Xu Xin(CHN) was a men’s team member in Rio de Janeiro (2016). In the men’s team event, Germany has always won a medal, silver in Beijing (2008), bronze in London (2012), bronze in Rio de Janeiro (2016). Timo Boll (GER) and Dimitrij Ovtcharov (GER) have been ever-present in the German men’s team. Patrick Franziska (GER) was the men’s team reserve in Rio de Janeiro (2016). Japan finished in fifth place in the men’s team event in Beijing (2008). They were quarter- finalists in London (2012), silver medallists in Rio de Janeiro (2016). Jun Mizutani (JPN) has been ever present for Japan. Koki Niwa (JPN) competed in Rio de Janeiro (2016). The Korea Republic won men’s team bronze in Beijing (2008), silver in London (2012), in Rio de Janeiro (2016), they finished in fourth place. Jeoung Youngsik and Lee Sangsu competed in Rio de Janeiro (2016) It is the third time Germany and Japan have faced each other in an Olympic Games men’s singles final. Honours are even; in Beijing in 2008, Germany recorded a 3-2 win; in Rio de Janeiro, it was a 3-1 success for Japan. China has consistently reached the women’s team event semi-final and progressed to win gold. No player who has previously competed in the Olympic Games is present in the Chinese women’s team; all are on debut – Cheng Meng (CHN), Sun Yingsha (CHN), Wang Manyu (CHN). Page 3 In the women’s team event in Beijing (2008), Germany finished in fourth position. In London (2012), they were quarter-finalists. In Rio de Janeiro (2016), silver medallists. Matches to Watch 10.00 Women’s Team Semi-Final: China (1) v Germany (3) 14.30 Men’s Team Semi-Final: China (1) v Korea Republic (4) 19.30 Men’s Team Semi-Final: Japan (3) v Germany (2) Page 4 .