Team, Women

16 teams qualified for the women’s team event according to the same scheme as in the men’s competition. In addition to hosts Japan, six teams qualified as winners of continental tournaments. The remaining nine teams were determined from a qualification tournament played in Portugal in January 2020. When North Korea decided not to take part in the Tokyo Olympics, the team was replaced by France. Six of the qualified teams came from East Asia, six from Europe and the remaining four represented the rest of the world. Like in Rio, the team rounds were played in the so-called “Beijing System” of one doubles, two singles, and up to two more singles matches if required, as the first team to win three matches won the contest. All matches were played to the best-of-five games. Asia’s dominance was even greater than in the men’s event. All six Asian teams advanced from the first round, accompanied only by Germany and Romania from Europe.

The Chinese supremacy was reflected by a relation of 36-4 games record from four rounds and 12 matches. The team included Chen Meng and Sun Yingsha, the finalists in the singles, and Wang Manyu, ranked fourth in the world. It was no surprise that they faced Japan in the final, the second-best team based on world rankings. China won 3-0, with their opponents Miu Hirano, Kasumi Ishikawa, and singles bronze medallist Mima Ito, winning just two games.

Germany and Hong Kong were both well beaten in their semi-finals by 3-0 score-lines, by the favorites China and Japan respectively. In the bronze medal match, Germany went into the lead after winning the doubles but Hong Kong came back to win three singles in a row and claim the medal.