After waiting 26 years for a defeat for China men, two have come along in successive matches, with Sweden following Korea Republic’s lead from last night in taking down the defending champions.

It started with a hint that ‘normal service’ had been resumed by China as world No 1 Wang Chuqin defeated Anton Kallberg 3-0 (11-8, 11-5, 11-6).

Elias Ranefur led Lin Shidong 2-0, saw him come back to 2-2, but held his nerve to complete a 3-2 (11-9, 11-6, 3-11, 6-11, 11-9).

Truls Moregard then saved a match point and beat Liang Jingkun 3-2 (11-7, 9-11, 11-9, 3-11, 12-10), but Wang sent it to a decider by beating Ranefur 3-0 (12-10, 11-6, 11-4).

And so to Kallberg versus Lin, a tight and dramatic tussle which saw Kallberg (pictured above) win 3-1 (12-10, 10-12, 11-8, 11-8) to send Sweden to three Stage 1a wins out of three and top of Group 1.

Also in session 1 on Sunday, there were no difficulties for China women, who defeated Korea Republic 3-0 without dropping a game to finish top of Group 1.

Japan women had to come from 1-0 down to beat Germany in Group 2 after Sabine Winter had beaten Honoka Hashimoto 3-2 (9-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-8, 11-8).

Miwa Harimoto levelled with a 3-0 (11-4, 12-10, 11-7) win over Annett Kaufmann and Hina Hayata then beat Han Ying 3-1 (11-4, 8-11, 11-6, 11-5). Harimoto completed the victory with a 3-1 (11-6, 11-4, 7-11, 11-7) scoreline against Winter.