The players arrived to a thunderous reception as the women’s final at the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals London 2026 Presented by ACN got under way at the OVO Arena Wembley.

In a repeat of the final in each of the last five championships, all of which had seen China victorious, it was Miwa Harimoto (WR 5) who picked up the first game 11-4 to give Japan the early advantage.

In her match against Wang Manyu, she also had a 7-2 lead in the second game over the world number two, a lead which she would extend to game point at 10-5. Wang brought it all the way back to 10-9, however, a well-timed time out gave Harimoto the chance to clinch the point she needed for a 2-0 lead.

In the third, Wang battled back in and claimed the game 11-6 with her second game point to make it 2-1 in the match. The momentum of play and the backing of the crowd then saw her storm to a 5-1 lead in the fourth which she would build out to take the game 11-4 to draw level in the match at 2-2.

The decider had close early exchanges until Harimoto was able to force the issue and open up an 8-3 lead. Gaining match point at 10-4, Harimoto took it at the first time of asking to put Japan 1-0 in the match,

With the world number two defeated, next up for China was world number one – Sun Yingsha – who lined up against Hina Hayata, world number 11.

In a tight opening game, it was Sun who was able to edge her opponent as she opened up game point at 10-7. Not needing a second invitation, the Chinese player took the opening game 11-7 and a 1-0 match lead.

The second was a similarly tight battle before Sun was once again able to forge ahead and earn game point at 10-5. Harimoto saved the first two but there was nothing she could do to stop Sun who took the game 11-7.

In the third, Sun once again made the vital move when it mattered most. She opened up match point, however the crowd were made to wait as Harimoto battled back into the game at 10-8 before Sun got the match over the line at 11-8.

With the match now at 1-1, Honoka Hashimoto (JPN) and Kuai Man (CHN) came to the table.

It was Hashimoto who earned the first game point at 10-5, however, thanks to some great defensive work was only able to take the game at the second time of asking at 11-6.

From a tight opening that came to 5-5, Kuai was able to put her attacking play to good use as she completed an 11-5 game victory to equalise the score at 1-1.

Hashimoto bounced straight back to take the third 11-6 before the fourth proved yet another tight game. At 7-7, an epic rally ensued that followed the pattern of attack from Kuai and defence from Hashimoto. The Japanese player won it and charged forward to take the game 11-8 and the match 3-1.

Back to the table for China came world number one Sun Yingsha to face Miwa Harimoto. Both had been victorious in their opening matches, and it was Sun who took to a commanding lead to win the first game 11-2 and make it 1-0 to China.

The second game started off as a tighter affair than the first ended before Sun was once again able to edge in front at 8-3. She would make this advantage pay by taking the game 11-4. Sun completed the match win 3-0 as she took the third match 11-6.

This epic battle headed down to a deciding match, with Hina Hayata playing for Japan and Wang Manyu for China.

Wang set the tone in the tone early on as she raced into the lead. Despite Hayata reducing the gap to 10-7, Wang was able to convert her third game point to take the lead in the match.

Both players pushed one another in the second game, bringing excitement and tension to the crowd. At 9-7 up, Wang forced game point and got it over the line to move China one game away from defending their crown.

Despite going 2-0 up, Hayata soon found herself 4-2 down in this crucial game. Wang opened her lead up to 6-4 and then 7-5 before pushing forwards to claim the game 11-4 and the match 3-1 to wrap up the match win 3-2 and championship title.