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20:38

Japanese women make it through

Japan guaranteed a first Table Tennis Olympic Games medal as Ai FukuharaKasumi Ishikawa and Sayaka Hirano moved into the women's Team final.
Kasumi Ishikawa and Sayaka Hirano of Japan celebrate
Kasumi Ishikawa (L) and Sayaka Hirano of Japan celebrate after winning the women's Team Table Tennis semifinal match against Singapore on Day 9.

Japan have never had anyone on the podium since the sport was added to the schedule at Seoul 1988.

That will all change on Tuesday, however, after their female trio delivered a victory over world Team champions Singapore at ExCeL.

They will now face a final against either China or the Republic of Korea, who meet in the semis tomorrow morning.

The tone was set for Japan's success by Fukuhara, who overcome Feng Tianwei of Singapore 3-1.

That delivered some revenge following Feng's victory over her team mate, Ishikawa in the bronze-medal match of the Singles.

Ishikawa then took centre stage to beat Wang Yuegu for the second time at London 2012, having knocked her out of the Individual event.

The 19-year-old was thoroughly impressive throughout and took Japan to the brink of the final by emerging victorious in straight games.

Hirano then joined forces with Ishikawa to seal an impressive victory as Wang and Li Jiawei were brushed aside 3-0 (11-3 13-11 11-4) in the Doubles.


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12
August