Tokyo, Aug. 2 (CNA) Taiwan was eliminated by Japan in the quarterfinals of the women's table tennis team event at the Tokyo Olympics on Monday, falling 3-0 in the best-of-five match encounter.
Reaching the quarterfinals was nonetheless the best showing for Taiwan's women's table tennis team at the Olympics, outpacing the round of 16 finish in 2016 at Rio.
Cheng Hsien-tzu and Chen Szu-yu led off for Taiwan in the doubles with an 8-11, 6-11, 5-11 loss to Kasumi Ishikawa and Miu Hirano of Japan.
Cheng I-ching then fell 2-11, 9-11, 8-11 to Mima Ito, who took bronze in the women's singles in Tokyo and won gold in the mixed doubles with Jun Mizutani after topping Cheng I-ching and Lin Yun-ju in the semifinals.
Chen played the most competitive match Monday, taking a game off Hirano before losing 9-11, 11-7, 4-11, 4-11.
Japan is seeking a second straight women's team medal after Ito, Ishikawa and the now-retired Ai Fukuhara placed third in Rio five years ago.
The men's team -- comprised of Chen Chien-an, Chuang Chih-yuan and Lin Yun-ju -- will play against Germany in the quarterfinals on Tuesday afternoon.
The men's team has also set a best for Taiwan in the event by reaching the quarterfinals.
