Guangdong claimed the men's team bronze medal in the mass table tennis event at China's 15th National Games on August 10, defeating defending champions Sichuan 3-0 in the third-place playoff.
The mass table tennis match, held at Guangzhou's Tianhe Sports Center, marked the fourth day of the tournament, which features over 300 amateur players from 32 regional teams competing for 10 gold medals across team and individual categories.
The host team dominated from the outset, with Shen Peng, the doubles pair Meng Gangxiong/Zhu Zhenyu, and Zhen Zhiyong each securing 2-0 victories in their matches. This win mirrored Guangdong's earlier 3-2 triumph over Sichuan in the group stage on August 8, but this time with a more decisive scoreline.
Coach Zhao Guocheng acknowledged the team's resilience after a semi-final loss: "The players performed exceptionally. A bronze is still a medal—we gave it our all and will push forward in the singles events." The match, running until August 14, is part of the National Games' grassroots sports initiative, launched in 2017 to promote mass participation in elite-level competitions.
The event features athletes aged up to 81, including Hong Kong's Zhang Yaozhao, highlighting its inclusive ethos. The revamped Tianhe Sports Center, a historic venue upgraded for the Games, hosted the matches alongside Guangzhou's Badminton Management Center.
The women's team bronze went to Sichuan, who edged out Shanghai 3-2 in a tightly contested match.
Author | Feng Huiting
Editor | Huang Qini, James, Shen He
Photo | Quanyun Guangzhou WeChat account
