The World Team Championships returned to London — fittingly, a century after the first edition was staged there in 1926. On finals day, China met Japan twice and won both: the men 3-0, the women 3-2.

The men’s final was a clean sweep. Liang Jingkun, Wang Chuqin and Lin Shidong each did their job for a 3-0 win, giving China a 12th straight world team title — a crown it has not surrendered since Osaka 2001. Lin Shidong beat Japan’s Shunsuke Togami 3-1 for his first world title, a proper baptism by fire for the youngster.

The women’s final was far tighter. Wang Manyu and Kuai Man dropped the first two rubbers; trailing 0-2, Sun Yingsha played twice and won both to steady the ship, then Wang Manyu returned for the decider and closed it out 3-2. Sun finished the event 9-0 and was named best female player — in a team event, someone who simply always delivers is worth more than a single win.

Going back to London carried symbolism. A hundred years on, China wrote its own footnote to the sport’s history with two golds. But for the players, London is just one stop toward LA 2028: a smooth men’s defence and a narrow women’s comeback are both more instructive than a clean sweep would have been.