Table Tennis 2024 Paris Olympics Review

Men’s Singles

The big shock came in the round of 32 as Truls Möregårdh (Sweden) upset Wang Chuqin (China) in 4-2. Kirill Gerassimenko (Kazakhstan) also upset Dang Qiu (Germany) in the top quarter, guaranteeing a surprise semi finalist. It was Moregardh who advanced. In the semi final, he came up against Hugo Calderano (Brazil). Felix Lebrun (France) battled through the third quarter with two seven-set victories while Fan Zhendong (China) came from behind against Tomokazu Harimoto (Japan) to make the semi finals. There he beat an exhausted Lebrun in straight sets. Moregardh came through four sets to two to make the gold medal match. In the bronze medal matchup, Lebrun won in straight sets and celebrated by shedding tears of joy. Moregardh took the first set but Zhendong would slowly break him down. He won four consecutive sets 11-9, 11-9, 11-9 and 11-8.

🥇Fan Zhendong 🇨🇳

🥈Truls Moregardh 🇸🇪

🥉Felix Lebrun 🇫🇷

Prediction analysis; 1 medalist correct, 1 perfect prediction 

I assumed the Chinese players would go through their sections to meet in the final which led to me ruling out Moregardh despite mentioning his strength. I went for Yun-ju instead of Lebrun to come through that quarter and win bronze. 

Men’s Team 

The only upset in the first round came as Brazil beat Portugal 3-1. They went out to France, losing 3-0, while China matched that score against South Korea. Sweden stunned Germany 3-0 whilst Japan got a 3-1 win over Taiwan. China swept France 3-0 in the semi finals, winning both singles matches 3-1 in sets. Japan took a 2-0 lead against Sweden but Sweden won the three remaining matches as Anton Kallberg (Sweden) overturned a 2-0 deficit against Tomokazu Harimoto (Japan). In the bronze medal matchup, France halted a Japanese comeback to win 3-2. China would beat Sweden 3-0, with all matches going to five sets. 

🥇China 🇨🇳

🥈Sweden 🇸🇪

🥉France 🇫🇷

Prediction analysis; 2 medalists correct, 2 perfect predictions 

I mentioned Germany could be beaten by Sweden but didn’t make the prediction. China were obvious favourites. 

Women’s Singles 

There was only two surprise names that reached the quarter finals. Adriana Diaz (Puerto Rico) was beaten after leading by Pyon Song Gyong (North Korea), and Sofia Polcanova (Australia) beat Bernadette Szocs (Romania) in straight sets. Neither Sun Yingsha (China) nor Chen Meng (China) dropped a set in their quarter-final matches. Hina Hayata (Japan) and Shin Yu-bin (South Korea) both came through in seven sets battles. In the semis, the Chinese pair dominated, winning both games in straight sets. In the final, Meng came from 1-0 down to take the following two sets. Yingsha levelled it up only for Meng to take the final two sets and win Olympic gold. Hayata fought from 1-0 down to win bronze.

🥇Chen Meng 🇨🇳

🥈Sun Yingsha 🇨🇳

🥉Hina Hayata 🇯🇵

Prediction analysis; 3 medalist correct, 1 perfect prediction 

I got the final four participants correct. I thought Yingsha could win but instead Meng got the gold. 

Women’s Team

There were a few surprises in the first round as Sweden, India and France defeated Hong Kong, Romania and Thailand. The top three seeds all made the semi final while Germany beat France to join them. China beat South Korea 3-0 whilst Japan beat Germany 3-1. Korea beat Germany to seal the bronze. In the gold medal matchup, China won 3-0 dropping just three sets. 

🥇China 🇨🇳

🥈Japan 🇯🇵

🥉South Korea 🇰🇷

Prediction analysis; 2 medalist correct, 2 perfect predictions 

The top two felt like relatively easy predictions. Instead of Romania causing upsets, they were upset

Mixed Doubles

The biggest shock came in the opening round when Jong-sik/Kum-yong (North Korea) defeaeted Harimoto/Hayata (Japan) in five sets. They repeated the feat against Karlsson/Karlberg (Sweden) but they were taken to seven against Wong/Doo (Hong Kong), taking the seventh set 11-6. That left a final matchup of the sixteenth seed against the top seed. Chuqin/Yingsha (China) made their way through to the final, dropping two sets in each of the round prior to the final. It was Jong-hoon/Yu-bin (South Korea) who they beat in the semi final, having cruised through to that stage in straight sets. It was again a win in six sets for the Chinese pair in the final. The South Korean pair also continued their trend of straight set wins to seal bronze.

🥇Wang Chuqin/Sun Yingsha 🇨🇳

🥈Ri Jong-sik/Kim Kung-yong 🇰🇵

🥉Lin Jong-hoon/Shin Yu-bin 🇰🇷

 

Prediction analysis; 2 medalist correct, 2 perfect prediction 

If I could have called the North Korea upset in the opening round, I may have been able to get this correct.