(L-R) Ma Long, Wang Hao, coach Liu Guoliang and Zhang Jike of China celebrate after men's table tennis team final match between China and South Korea, at London 2012 Olympic Games in London, Britain, on August 8, 2012. China won gold medal. (Xinhua/Shen Bohan)
LONDON -- China took home the men's table tennis team gold medal here Wednesday, making a clean sweep for the second consecutive Olympics.
It was the 24th gold medal that China won at the Olympic table tennis competition since its national sport was introduced at the 1988 Seoul Games.
Ma Long, world number two, fought off a strong challenge from South Korea's Ryu Seung-Min, the Athens singles champion, and won the opening match 3-1 (11-6, 11-6, 6-11, 11-4).
Zhang Jike, the London Olympic singles gold medalist, got a slow start in the following match against South Korea's Joo Sae-Hyuk. He dropped one game, but fought back quickly and won the match 3-1 (11-9, 5-11, 11-6, 11-8).
South Korean pair Oh Sang-Eun and Ryu fought hard in the doubles, but they failed to keep their match alive, losing 3-0 (11-4, 11-8, 11-6) to China's Zhang and Wang Hao.
Germany won the bronze medal after beating Hong Kong, China in four matches.
