Paris 2024 table tennis: All results, as the People's Republic of China reigns supreme in men’s team

The People’s Republic of China defended their gold medal in the men’s table tennis team event in emphatic fashion, beating Sweden 3-0 at South Paris Arena on Friday, 9 August at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

It was their fifth title in the men’s team event, a competition they have yet to lose since it debuted at the Olympic Games Beijing 2008. Nonetheless, this victory still felt unique to six-time Olympic gold medallist Ma Long.

"This medal feels heavy, especially since I’ve heard it contains iron from the Eiffel Tower,’ said the 35-year-old six-time Olympic champion. “When I first held it, I could feel the weight."

While China won the match in three straight games, Sweden certainly didn’t hand them the gold medal without a fight. Anton Kallberg, Kristian Karlsson and Truls Moregard played their best table tennis, challenging Ma, Wang Chuqin and Fan Zhendong on each point, each set and each game.

The match began with an electric doubles match between Kallberg/Karlsson and Ma/Wang. The Swedish pair struck first, signaling their intentions to end China’s dynasty over the event by taking the first set 11-8.

Ma and Wang wouldn’t be defeated easily, however, as they rebounded to take the next two sets with ease.

Kallberg/Karlsson would establish some resistance in the fourth set, but they ultimately fell to the Chinese duo in the fifth and deciding set of the first game. The Chinese pair roared with delight, setting the stage for a breathtaking rematch of the men’s singles gold medal match between Fan and Moregard.

The two rivals picked up where they left off, exchanging thrilling rallies in an emotionally charged match. Moregard took the first set, but Fan would not be bested so easily, taking the next two sets to establish his dominance over the table once again.

Moregard would rally to win a riveting fourth set 13-11, but Fan would again find extra energy to play with a stylish pizzazz that Moregard couldn’t match in the fifth set, giving a second game win to China.

The match looked to be heading towards a quick conclusion after Wang won the first two sets of the third game against Karlsson. However, the Swede rebounded with the fighting spirit shown by his teammates, snatching the third and fourth sets from Wang.

With the set, game and match all hanging in the balance, both players prepared for the most important set of the match. Karlsson took the first point, but that would be as close as he’d come to victory, as Wang outclassed the Swede to win the set 11-2.

It was victory once again for China, but the Swedes kept their heads held high.

“We can be very proud of ourselves — our performance today and throughout the whole tournament,” said Kallberg. “We have given everything we have, fighting through in the toughest moments.

“To fight back and keep on believing until the very last breath. It was the same today, so we have no regrets.”

The French team of Alexis Lebrun, Felix Lebrun and Simon Gauzy will also leave Paris 2024 with few regrets, after staving off a thrilling comeback from the Japanese team of Shinozuka Hiroto, Togami Shunsuke and Harimoto Tomokazu in the bronze-medal match.

France held the lead after the initial doubles match, played by Alexis Lebrun and Gauzy, and the first singles match, played by Felix Lebrun. Japan rallied, however, with Togami and Harimoto delivering wins over Alexis Lebrun and Simon Gauzy, respectively.

It all came down to the final singles match, with French table tennis hero Felix Lebrun outclassing Shinozuka to take the bronze medal for France.

“I was more tense when I started the match on 2-2, because it's not just for myself, but also for them,” said Felix Lebrun. “I know I have already won [a medal], but not them and I want to have another one for them. I'm so happy to have won my last match and took this medal. It's amazing.”

He joined his teammates, Sweden and champions China on the podium for a moment of celebration and reflection after many days of play at Paris 2024.

Table tennis: Men’s team podium

Gold: People's Republic of China

Silver: Sweden

Bronze: France

See all the results on Olympics.com.