Table tennis: China's defending champion Chen overcomes Swedish rival, North Korean Pyon advances

PARIS: Chen Meng, China's reigning table tennis singles gold medallist, carved a path to the round of 16 by defeating the formidable Swedish player Linda Bergstrom 4-1 on Tuesday (Jul 30).

Bergstrom, known for her defensive chopping style, refused to give Chen an easy glide to victory. Her technique, less common in Asia these days, caught Chen off guard in the first game, which Bergstrom won 11-8.

Unfazed by the initial setback, Chen quickly recalibrated.

"Although I lost the first game, I had basically understood how to adapt to the opponent's spin on the court. So, the main thing was to make decisive shots and trust my own judgment," said Chen.

North Korea, whose mixed doubles team are making history by reaching the final, saw their female singles player Pyon Song Gyong knock out Germany's No 11 seed Nina Mittelham in a tough 4-3 battle that stretched over one hour and 10 minutes.

Spaniard Alvaro Robles, facing a higher-ranked rival in Brazilian Hugo Calderano, also put on a thrilling match. Calderano, the No 4 seed, eventually prevailed to earn a spot in the round of 16 with a 4-2 score.