At China's 15th National Games in Macao SAR, veteran stars Liu Shiwen and Lin Gaoyuan staged a stunning comeback to clinch mixed doubles gold in a six-game thriller.
Up against Jiangsu’s youthful duo—21-year-old Kuai Man and 19-year-old Chen Yuanyu—Liu and Lin dropped the first two games 13-15 and 8-11. Drawing on their experience, the home favorites bounced back hard, winning the third, fourth and fifth games each by 11-8.
The decisive sixth game saw the under-20 challengers surge to a 9-7 lead and even save a match point. But Liu and Lin held their nerve, sealing a tight 12-10 victory and securing Liu’s second mixed doubles gold in her sixth National Games appearance.
This showdown underscored the exciting clash between emerging talents and seasoned champions in Chinese table tennis. As fans celebrate this showcase of skill, the global table tennis community is already eyeing the next wave of contenders.
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Liu Shiwen and Lin Gaoyuan win mixed doubles gold at National Games
cgtn.com
