A significant moment in table tennis history as the Unified Korea side took to the stage for the first time since in 27 years, but the team’s ambitions of making the final were dashed by second seeds Japan in the penultimate round of the 2018 event.

Mima Ito handed Japan the perfect start to the tie with a straight games victory over Jeon Jihee (11-2, 11-8, 11-9) before Kasumi Ishikawa doubled the advantage, defeating Kim Song I in an emotional seven game thriller (11-4, 6-11, 11-8, 11-13, 16-14). Stepping up to compete the job was Miu Hirano, who accounted for Yang Haeun (11-4, 11-5, 9-11, 11-6) to send Japan through to the gold medal match.

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