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BEIJING (AP) South Korea used solid defense to stifle the Japanese attack, winning 3-0 to take the bronze medal in women's team table tennis at the Olympics.
South Korea's Kim Kyung-ah and Park Mi-young are the top defensive players in the world and their strategy is to let their opponents make mistakes. Kim and Park returned nearly every shot with a chop, which gave the ball a tricky backspin as it floated back over the net.
The Japanese responded by sending shots out of bounds or into the net, though they challenged the Koreans with some searing shots.
After the last point, Kim fell to her knees on the court and buried her face in her towel.
The contest was a repeat of a first stage group match, which the Koreans also won 3-0.