Table tennis-Hong Kong wins first women’s team bronze medal

TOKYO, Aug 5 (Reuters) – Hong Kongers Lee Ho Ching, Doo Hoi Kem and Minnie Soo Wai Yam clinched the bronze medal on Thursday in the women’s team event after a narrow 3-1 victory over the German team.

The Hong Kong trio rushed over and kissed in a circle as they won Hong Kong’s first medal in the team event.

German pair Shan Xiaona and Petrissa Solja took the lead over Hong Kongers Lee and Doo in the opening doubles match, winning 3-1.

But Soo, a 23-year-old in her first Olympics, rounded off the tag team victory with singles wins in the second and fourth matches, supported by teammate Doo in beating the Rio Solja tag team silver medalist.

“I still couldn’t believe what happened today,” Hong Kong’s Soo said.

“After winning the game I always feel like it’s totally amazing … yeah, it’s definitely the happiest day of my life.”

“Once the isolation was over, I would go straight home with my family and eat with them,” said Doo, a 24-year-old paddler.

The German trio, which were the same team that won silver at the Rio 2016 Olympics, said they had given their all to try to win a medal.

“We are very disappointed … Hong Kong was strong today, and we also think they deserve the medal,” said Germany’s Solja.

Defending champions China and Rio 2016 team bronze medalists will battle for women’s team gold on Thursday night.

The Chinese women’s team has won all three Olympic men’s team table tennis events since its introduction in 2008.

Reporting by Eimi Yamamitsu; Editing by Michael Perry

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