Table Tennis - Germany carry non-Asia to final

By Simon Rabinovitch

BEIJING (Reuters) - Germany ensured that at least one non-Asian nation would get a table tennis medal at the Olympics by advancing to the men's team championship final with a 3-2 victory over Japan on Saturday.

Germany will face the winner of a China-South Korea match. The Chinese hosts are heavy favourites to win that semi-final and the gold in their national sport.

"We will have our fun in the final," German Christian Suss said. "This was our target. We have nothing to lose. The Chinese have the pressure and we will see what we can do."

On the women's side, China and Singapore will play for the gold, while South Korea and Japan will meet for the bronze.

Along with bringing a hard-driving topspin attack to the table, Germany add more emotional play to the competition, a contrast to the extremely disciplined Asian teams.

The full range of their fist pumps, full-throated shouts and occasional flashes of anger were on display against Japan.

In the first game of the first match, the umpire issued Germany's feisty Dimitrij Ovtcharov, number 14 in the world, with a yellow card for his drawn-out service routine.

Ovtcharov huffed at the umpire but then channelled his anger into a barrage of crisp, low shots that stymied Yo Kan, Japan's top player. Ovtcharov collapsed on his back after his 11-7 11-13 13-11 9-11 12-10 win.