Japanese 18-year-olds Mima Ito and Hina Hayata finished runners-up at the table tennis world championships on Sunday, losing the women's doubles final to China's Wang Manyu and Sun Yingsha 4-2.

Ito and Hayata, bronze medalists at the last worlds in 2017, were attempting to be the first Japanese duo to win a world title since 1967.

"We came in intent on winning, but for Japanese players, this is the stage where we always lose to the Chinese," Ito said. "They are like a wall for us. We were able to put up good fights, so we are getting stronger, but there is still a talent gap."

With the match tied at two games apiece, and 9-9 in the fifth game, Ito and Hayata appeared to take the upper hand when their serve was not returned. But the judge ruled it a let, Wang and Sun won the replayed point and never looked back in an 8-11, 3-11, 11-8, 11-3, 12-10, 11-8 victory.

Playing in front of a loud contingent of Chinese supporters, the Japanese pair quickly ran out in front of Wang and Sun, who seemed to have trouble getting good returns on Ito's low forehand flicks either missing it completely or hitting poor shots.

After the second game went by in a blur, Sun and Wang looked to have adjusted and jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the third game and fought off a charge by the Japanese to pull within one game.

"We had a great chance to win this after going up 2-0," Hayata said. "It gave me this sensation like there's no way we can beat Chinese players."

"I'm proud that we got this far, having settled for bronze last time, but obviously we have to find a way to hold on and win these matches.

Having got the measure of their opponents, the Chinese pair looked rock solid in the fourth game to tie the match as Ito and Hayata looked more and more unsure.

Wang and Sun capitalized on their fifth-game reprieve and seized complete control of the match.

"Blowing that two-game lead was extremely frustrating," Ito said. "We were nearly perfect in the second game. But even if you beat them with a perfect game, you have to expect Chinese players to come back. They adjusted, took us off our game and we didn't get it back."