China conquered the Olympic table tennis semifinals on Thursday and has its sights set on a gold medal sweep. The most decorated team in Olympic table tennis history has already captured the men's singles, women's singles and mixed doubles gold medals in Paris, and its teams are looking to leave just as glittered.
Here's the full-tilt table action from Day 13 of the Olympics...
Women's teams
The Chinese women's team reserved its spot in the final, after it crushed South Korea, 3-0, on Thursday.
The doubles team of Chen Meng and Wang Manyu only dropped one game in their match, before Wang and Sun Yingsha came in to close the match in their singles battles without losing any more points.
Before Thursday, the Chinese women's team had not lost an individual game in the teams event.
"The key is to demonstrate the spirit and determination of the Chinese team," Chen said of the looming women's team final. "The power of our three players united is immense. I believe that when we step onto the court, any opponent will feel the pressure."
The Chinese women's team is looking to continue its gold medal dominance. Since table tennis joined the Olympic program in 1988, the Chinese woman have captured all nine gold medals in the event.
The Chinese team will spar with Japan for the gold medal glory.
The German women's team made a valiant effort, but couldn't overtake the No. 2 seed, Japan. Team Germany's standout star, Annett Kaufmann, ranked No. 100 in the world, posted Germany's singular match victory in her singles match. Kaufmann conquered the No. 12 ranked player, Miwa Harimoto, in a merciless straight game triumph. Kaufmann's latest singles match victory is the second of her taking down the sport's top players in her Olympic debut.
"Right now, it's difficult," Kaufmann said after the defeat. "We have to process the loss as fast as possible and try to refocus. And we still have a chance to fight for the bronze medal.
Men's teams
The French men's team said au revoir to its gold medal dreams when the Chinese men's team beat them, 3-0, on Thursday.
While the score looks like the Chinese team easily won, the French team fought hard in the semifinal.
Ma Long and Wang Chuqin breezily won the first match in three straight games, but the French brothers Felix and Alexis Lebrun pushed both their singles matches to four games.
Felix, at just 17 years old, faced the recently gilded men's singles champion Fan Zhendong. The pair last met in the men's singles semifinal, where Fan flounced Felix, 4-0.
After falling fast in the first game, Lebrun found his footing, and forced the final game to a final 16-14 score.
“My level was better, I changed my tactics," Felix said of his match against Fan. "Of course, I kept some things, but I changed some small things too. But I also knew Fan will be changing some. Every match is different and this one was good from both of us.
Alexis started his match with a first-game win, before mixed doubles gold medalist Wang Chuqin overwhelmed the 20-year-old and dismissed him in four games.
The French team will next face Japan in the men's bronze medal final. Felix Lebrun is contending to win his second bronze medal, after he won the bronze in men's singles.
China will next face the dark horse paddlers from Sweden. Led by men's silver medalist Truls Moregard, the Swedish team has had an exception performance in Paris, including upsetting the No. 3-seeded Japanese team.