Japan's women secured a team table tennis medal for the third straight Olympics on Tuesday, Mima Ito, Kasumi Ishikawa and Miu Hirano advancing to the final after a 3-0 win over Hong Kong at the Tokyo Games.
Ito, who can now add another medal to the mixed doubles gold she won with Jun Mizutani and her singles bronze at these games, Ishikawa and Hirano will face either China or Germany in Thursday's final.
"We are delighted to be able to play in the final and we want to feel the joy of standing on that stage," said Ishikawa. "The three of us will pull together and try and enjoy it."
Earlier Tuesday, the Japanese men's team of Mizutani, Tomokazu Harimoto and Koki Niwa stayed in the hunt for a podium finish, downing Sweden 3-1 to advance to the semifinals.
In the women's semis, Ishikawa and Hirano got Japan off to the perfect start in the doubles with an 11-7, 11-2, 11-8 win over Lee Ho-ching and Minnie Soo Wai-yam.
Ito overcame Doo Hoi-kem 11-9, 9-11, 11-1, 11-7, and victory was complete when Hirano beat Lee Ho-ching 12-10, 11-7, 11-3.
"I lost the second game but was able to regroup without worrying about it too much and made a good start in the next game," said Ito.
Hirano said, "I am able to execute what I have been doing in practice on this stage and that has given me confidence. I am happy to be playing at the Olympics."
Japan's women won the team silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics and the bronze in Rio de Janeiro five years ago.
In the men's quarterfinals, Niwa and Harimoto put Japan on its way by beating Kristian Karlsson and Anton Kaellberg 11-8, 13-11, 8-11, 11-9 in the opening doubles.
Veteran Mizutani conceded Japan's first game of the team event when he lost 11-3, 11-9, 10-12, 11-8 to Mattias Falck, but Harimoto rallied to beat Kaellberg 10-12, 11-9, 11-9, 12-10 and restore the host nation's advantage.
"(Playing in the third match) is a crucial role in the team event. I just wanted to win the game at any cost," said Harimoto, the world No. 4.
Mixed doubles gold medalist Mizutani said, "We won the match even though I lost and that (team strength) is Japan's strength." "Hopefully I can make a contribution (in the semifinals) tomorrow."
Niwa put the match to bed in the third singles match, overpowering Falck 12-10, 11-5, 11-6.
"We were leading the match 2-1 when it came to my turn (in the singles) so I was determined to win, knowing that if I did we would win the match."
Japan will face Germany, a 3-2 winner over Taiwan, in Wednesday's semis.
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