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Miwa is the real deal and I hope she can rise up to become Japan's No.1, hopefully within this year or the next. Hirano and Ito sticking around will largely depend on whether any of Japan's younger talent can rise up. Odo's looking the best right now but it's still too early to tell. From Rio...

This is the only team medal match that has made me upset. Imagine if Japan had taken the doubles, SYS would have been feeling the pressure that much more when Hirano led 7-1. And with Miwa playing at that high level, things could have been 2-1 for Japan and we would still have somemore table...

I don't think I've ever seen a female player play a backhand counter loop from far behind against a smash. Miwa's playing the table tennis of her life but it's still 2-1 for WMY. That's how good China is.

It'll take a lot but she's proving her team selection to those who feel that Ito should have been chosen for her experience, especially after that semifinal.

Miwa performed the best today.

Sun Yingsha at the end of G1 is called kicking it into high gear. Hirano was also getting a bit too predictable with her placement but it's a fine balance between targeting SYS's weaker backhand and adding variation.

Except this time they didn't. Other than saving matchpoint, every other point from 9-5 was played hesitantly/weird tactics. Long fast serve when WMY was already in forehand mode? And why was Hayata falling over for every other forehand?

Japan threw that match away.

Good timeout. Hopefully it pays off. Finally a good shot from Hayata at 7-5. 9-5 now, their biggest chance to take the lead.

Did they forget what won them the 3rd game? Back to backhand plays and slow reactions from Hayata.

They're hammer 90% of their shots at CM/WMY's forehands. Obviously well practiced and absolutely resolute in execution.

Hayata's playing weird. Hitting high balls up into the air mid rally without any spin or pace.

Didn't think HariMiwa could take the first game after they blew that 8-4 lead but two empty serves and a backhand from Miwa helps them steal the lead.

Finally. But losing the toss is fatal.

And Shin Yubin played brilliantly. Is Kuai Man for sure next in line? There's still Qian Tianyi and something tells me Wang Yidi intends to stick around.

Congratulations Jeon Jihee and Team Korea! Shin Yubin being a great team player, Lee EunHye shutting down a major threat in Kaufmann, and Jeon contributing two points to an Olympic medal 8 years in the making. In the post match interview, Jeon Jihee thanks Shin Yubin for raising her own world...

Only started smashing toward the end of game 2. Hopefully she can take a third game, if only to not end the Olympics on such a sour note.

Shan needs to just turn on the aggression. She can't win like this.

Crashing down from the heavens. A lot to take for an 18 year old.

Kaufmann: 100% win-rate, loses in bronze medal match Shan: 100% loss-rate, bronze medal match ??? Jeon Jihee will absolutely want to take this.