China marched into the semi-finals of the Asian Games table tennis team events on Thursday as South Korea loomed as their strongest challenger.
China's women faced a tough workout in their 3-0 win over Japan, whose paddlers refused to surrender easily to their more experienced opponents.
They now face South Korea who blanked India 3-0 and have looked in top form in the past two days.
China's Wang Nan, the world No. 3, was sluggish early in her match, allowing Saki Kanazawa, ranked 40 in the world, to take the first game.
But the three-time world champion held her nerve and, backed by a cheering crowd, fought back for a 3-1 victory, sealing the match with a cross-court forehand smash.
Team-mate Guo Yue, the world No. 4, fought off a tenacious challenge from Japan's Ai Fukuhara, her 3-1 win coming after a marathon 22-20 rally.
It was a similar story in the third match, Japan's Haruna Fukuoka forcing Guo Yan to four sets before the World Cup winner emerged with a 3-1 victory.
In other quarter-final action, Commonwealth Games gold medalist Li Jiawei led the charge for Singapore, dashing Hong Kong's hopes after earlier helping her country defeat Thailand.
The city state must now steel themselves for today's semi-final showdown against defending champions North Korea. The North have not dropped a game so far and on Thursday sent Thailand and Uzbekistan packing 3-0.
On the men's side, China cruised past host Qatar in 43 minutes after earlier downing Japan 3-0.
They now play Taiwan who defeated North Korea 3-1 and then Vietnam 3-0.
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