dpa
Paris
Chen Meng of China won back-to-back Olympic women’s table tennis golds when she defeated compatriot Sun Yingsha in a repeat of the Tokyo final.
The 4-2 win meant she became the first player since 2008 Beijing champion Zhang Yining, who was watching in the crowd, to retain the women’s singles gold.
World number one Sun has won everything but the Olympics individually, with even taking the opening game not enough this time.
She at last picked up mixed double gold earlier in Paris with Wang Chuqin.
China has now won all 10 women’s singles golds since the event entered the Olympics in 1988. The last five finals have been all Chinese.
"To win a gold medal is a dream we both have,” Chen said.
"But there can only be one victor. The one who loses will definitely be very disappointed. When I hugged (Sun), I told her to keep on fighting.
"Four years is a long time for an athlete, but if you keep working hard, don’t give up, anything is possible.” In the bronze medal match, Japan’s Hina Hayata came back to beat South Korean Shin Yubin 4-2 despite a left-wrist injury.
The men’s singles final takes place on Sunday with Sweden’s Truls Moregard trying to end Chinese domination against world champion Fan Zhendong.