China's players and coach Li Sun (3rd L) pose with a Chinese national flag after winning Women's group final against Japan at 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships in Halmstad, Sweden, May 5, 2018. China beat Japan in the final by 3-1 and claimed the title of the event. (Xinhua/Ye Pingfan)
HALMSTAD, Sweden, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Defeating Japan 3-1, defending champions China claimed their fourth consecutive title at women's final of the 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships here on Saturday.
China's top ranked players Ding Ning, Liu Shiwen and Zhu Yuling won three games in a row, after Liu lost the opening set to Ito Mima.
Battling with 17-year-old Ito through five games, Liu lost by 2-3 eventually.
Without being influenced by the first defeat, veteran Ding equalised the match for China, beating Hirano Miu 11-6, 12-10, 13-11.
World No.2 Zhu routed Japan's captain Ishikawa Kasumi 11-4, 11-7, 11-8.
In the fourth rubber, Liu defeated Hirano 11-6, 11-6, 12-10, helping China raise the Corbillon Cup for the 21st time.
