FULL MATCH | Wang Manyu vs Kim Nayeong | Asian Team Championships 2025 Semifinals Extend

They already know each other's game. So it's all about their good game. Or a consistent game. But talking about Wang Man Yu. Very, very strong player. Taller in height. Powerful in terms of strokes. Both backhand and the forehand. Yes, Wang Man Yu has truly had a great career, of course. At the World Championships, he's got 7 goals. The World Cup as well, 2 goals. And at the Asian Games, she's won 2 gold medals in the team event. So that's been a good record, of course. And at the moment, obviously, she is the world number 2. Behind her counterpart, as we just saw her some time ago. And also to tell you that Wang Man Yu is coming off a fantastic campaign at the China Smash. She won the singles title there. Beat Sun Yingsha 4-2. So it's just... That's what I mean. Sometimes as a Chinese supporter, one must be thinking, for 2 players in the finals, who do we support? Either way, it's a win-win. Then it may all boil down to friendships and relationships. If you know the players personally, then that's how you support. If you don't, then it's just about the country getting the medal. Oh yes. Country getting the medal at such a stage. Certainly the priority for the Chinese management there. The first point to Wang Man Yu. This is what China practices. They do not want to lose even a single point at the starting. Another point to Kim. She's trying to control Man Yu from the starting. And look at this. Man Yu changing the position. Coming on to the center of the table. And now Kim has also changed the service position. Power backhand. She was trying it this time. She perfectly timed it. Kim to serve. A bit of a tough luck. But again, it was a well-returned by Kim. Man Yu was slightly double-minded there. Should I go for a power attack or should I go for a placement? Yes, a little bit in two minds. But that's what. When you're in two minds in that split second, that's when you make the error. That mistake certainly. Kim said that I won't mind this point. Because you just have a split second to decide. If you're in two minds, you make any decision, you're not going to execute it fully. Because you're not there 100%. Having said that, now Wang just getting that third point for herself. These two have played each other on, looks like three occasions before this. And on the other table, Farazi, two points up in the fourth game. You can't take your eyes off Benjamin Farazi, particularly considering what he achieved yesterday. Just a while ago, we saw the mascot of this event interacting with the fans. The mascot has been around the city of Bhubaneswar as well. More than Kachin and me, of course. Oh, what a hit. Manages to get that point. The competitive one that's going on. And it looks like, Benjamin Farazi is going to take this match against Anjeyun into the fifth game. Slowly, Kim is coming back in the game. Gradually, yes. Oh, what a hit. Manages to get that point. The competitive one that's going on. And it looks like, Benjamin Farazi is going to take this match against Anjeyun into the fifth game. Slowly, Kim is coming back in the game. Gradually, yes. It's a gradual ascent, you can say. But having said that, it's also imperative that they maintain that intensity. Because in the previous match, we saw how Shin had completely dominated that third game. But then, the wheels just came off in the fourth. Now it's all level yet again. Paival has got the chance to serve now. Comes a little bit towards the centre. What do you make of this? Yes, she's trying to control Manu from her backhand. You see, the way, the more and more services she's doing from the centre, she can command the receive and she knows that Manu would push her to the backhand where she's ready with a lethal backhand power stroke. Look at the service. Beautiful strategy there. Well, also to tell you that Wang Manu has never conceded a game against Kim. But Kim has got to do something really special. Of course, he's leading by two points. Puts that out wide. He was trying to block that one. Manu, successful. Successful in putting back Kim behind the table and with that spinny backhand. She's spun the course here. And it is 7-all again. Yes, 7-all. Pretty quick. Pretty quick forehand and backhand. Lightning speed. Kim, you were fabulous there. Farazi has taken that match into the fifth game. Gradually moving up now. She's 9-7 leading Kim. Kim who has never won a game against Wang. Is today the day that's going to change? Wang says hang on, hang on. Not done yet. Yes, absolutely. Kim would definitely want to take this game. To put Manu under pressure there. Manu made that mistake. She could see the opening there. Missed out on the timing. With that now, two game points to Kim. You just got to believe in you and the point will be yours. Now again, serving from the center. This time, she changed the strategy. Put the ball onto the forehand and backhand match. The fourth game has gone to Kim now. It's for the first time that Kim has taken a game of Wang Manu. It's a significant milestone for her. World No. 36 taking on the World No. 2. It was a very good performance. She was decisive, slow to start with. But then later, she closed it out very well. And a three-point margin would indicate that Kim was largely in control of proceedings. But now Wang Manu, we all know that she's a champion. The Chinese coach obviously won't be panicking. He will just pass on the tips as calm as a cucumber and will only ensure or rather will hope that Wang is going to execute those strategies which she has done ever so often. And with calmness, I would say that keep calm and ready to see a lot more chaos here. The pressure is heating up onto the table. It's one-all for India. Zhong got that lead off. Rather equalized the score of one-all on the set with a 12-10 game. And on the other table, Farazi and An Zhenyu. Match is right now. And three-all, 4-3. An Zhenyu up. Farazi showering the attacks. Left, right, centre there. Proceedings in the second game. This is the second match of the semi-final. That was quick. It was pacey. But in the end, it's Wang Manyu who gets off the mark. Well, it was there to be hit. And you could just see the way she shaped up for that one. Wang Manyu had gone way back and Kim had started off in the second game. Well clicked. But then she puts her hand up. May have just taken the top of the net on its way over towards Wang Manyu's side of the table. What a hit. That ripping backhand coming off Wang Manyu. Previous rally, it was Kim who dominated and had managed to smash one towards her. And now Wang Manyu equalises with that ripping backhand. Onto the net. Gradually just taking the lead here. Wang Manyu. Yes, having a good control of the strokes now. That was a perfect banana there. She literally kneeled down. The ball had so much of a backspin there. She literally went for a deadlift backhand. And now leading with two points, called to Manyu to serve. And onto the other side. The battle is on between Anjay Yu and Farazi. Well, she tried to get that backhand in but it just climbed a little bit onto her. But didn't get that elevation over the net. Wang just taking a two-point lead now. It's a good lead. She had started well even in the first game but then it was Kim who really hit back. Well, that's gone out. And that lead gets even better for Wang Manyu. Where hit well, hit hard. Away from Kim. Now it looks like having conceded the first game, Wang Manyu is gradually taking control here. The goal number two, it was only a matter of time before she really brought in her A game. Talking about A game, then Kim also has to bring that. Maybe an A++ game if she's got to beat Wang Manyu. It's for the first time today that she's won a game against her. She's got to get that sequence together, change of pace and to lean forward to hit that. What a connection but it was a good connection which has ensured that the ball fails over the table rather than landing on Wang Manyu's side. Mistake on the serve. It's happened earlier as well. Not for Kim but for her teammate Lin. Decisive with that forehand and it's going to be game point for Wang Manyu. A good margin towards this game point. Corner of the table. And with that backhand he has managed to equalize here. It's one apiece in the second match. Wang Manyu winning that 11-5 and it was only a matter of time before she really shifted gears and brought out her best. And talking about the other table, it's 8-6 in the fifth game between Benjamin Ferrazi and Ahn Jae-hoon of Republic of Korea. Benjamin Ferrazi leading 8-6. Lost the first two games. Won the next two. It is really incredible. It's amazing that we've had this talent on show here in Bhubaneswar. Also the talent on show is Wang Manyu. There on your screen, the world number two in conversation with the Chinese coach. The umpires of assurance whenever the Chinese are around the table tennis tables. That is their territory. It's their zone. That's where they dish out some of the best table tennis artistry that we've seen all across the globe. Has that taken the edge? It looks like it has taken the edge of the table. And that's how Wang Manyu begins this third game with a point. Wow! Mid-room and it was a thunderous forehand that got her that second point and she's off the mark in this third game in convincing fashion. Wang Manyu the world number two doing what she does best. First game he's trying to tell us was just an aberration. Rally there. That was quite a power rally there. Beautiful. Each and every ball with the same intensity by both the players. In the end that strong placement on the forehand Manyu dominating the 3-0 lead. Farazi with the match point Meanwhile, Kim persistent with that backhand manages to get that point. Farazi is going to face in fact with him on 10-8 and Benjamin Farazi has won that match in the contest between Iran and Republic of Korea. He won that 5-11, 7-11 lost the first to then bounce back 13-11 11-7 and 11-8. Coming back from the excitement from the other table over here Manyu leading by 2 points I guess the way Manyu is playing right now, Kim got to do something different and yes, something different something she does from the center of the table He wanted to go for that killer backhand It was such a powerful backhand there But was it there to hit that because initially she slowed the pace down with a serve made Wang Manyu come forward and there didn't seem to be that pace she had to enforce it in the process maybe just hit it a little bit too hard and on this occasion, it's off the net and gone out Yes, it was a setup done by her center backhand and then go for the power It's a strategy typically power player uses Quite a power play there Amazing! It was amazing just the way that that rally ultimately transpired It was a lot of power You could just hear the ball echoing around the Kalinga Stadium Off the net initially puts her hand up but then with that backhand, that's what we've seen from Kim, she's so consistent with the backhand and that is why she's able to hold her own Just during some of the last few points that she's won, we've seen that she's actually opted for the backhand because that's her strong suit Absolutely! Now this is where Kim is trying to get into the game She knows that it's 6-4 any point and here timeout has been called Yes, an important timeout at the moment with the game very much in the balance and even the match in the balance China has taken out a timeout here The coach could see that Kim Manu is losing the grip on the match and one more point, Kim would keep Manu under pressure That's the moment you've got to go back, do your revision have a discussion with your coach, give some food for thought I can go back because I can do something that you want me to do On the other table it's DPR Korea now leading by one point against India and Farazi did the magic there Yes, Farazi is playing in fact on table number 3 and he won the first game of course, first match rather, against Ahn Jae Yoon Now it's going to be Oh Joon Sung taking on Alamia Noshad That will also be an interesting match but talking about table number 2, the first match there was won by Manav Thakkar against Ham Yu Strong Manush Shah won the first game against Lee Jong Sik but Lee Jong Sik managing to lift himself out of that muddle and has made a good recovery The next match over there on that table is going to be really an explosive encounter because it's Ankur Bhattacharya against Chong Chong Bom, two very energetic players and you can see that energy on this table as well when you've got the world number 2 on offer, the energy levels will always be high as Wang Man Yu goes to 7-5 and time out worked for her to break the rhythm Kim looks still very promising from the looks of it, she looks like a far more confident player, the way the body language is, not over-celebration no under-celebration and with a powerful backhand she has, look at the power she generates Yes but this time that backhand may be a bit more power than she would have liked which is why that's gone off the table as you spoke about Kim, you know she has been playing for some time, she is world number 36 played 295 matches and is only 20 years old so that's a lot of experience there for her but she's up against a player who's one of the greats currently and the 26 year old Wang Man Yu has now moved to 9-5 is eyeing, closing the game immediately Yes and you may be having power but Man Yu is playing, the power play here Yes and you actually look at the Chinese players and everyone talks about the fact that they've got the power, they have the speed but also look at the way they also use the deft touch whenever it's needed That is where they spend a lot more time on the mindset preparation even if right now the Kim has got this point In fact it's Wang Man Yu who's got that point, she is now on game point She's on a game point but she's right now defending, she was defending 5 game points Now she's defending 4 Man Yu missing onto that backhand she could see the opening on that down the cross court Yes my apologies, sometimes you just get a bit of a disorientation when there are so many tables around Not just disorientation, the game is so fast that you are unable to count you can't count So that's the power of table tennis Yeah well my maths teachers would confirm that I can't count But with that I can clearly confirm that Wang Man Yu has won that game and she has moved to 11-7 and taken a 2-1 lead against Kim here in the second match of the semi-final between Korea and China Wang Man Yu, the world number 2, it's a story and it's a glittering career and it looks set to add more silverware more medals in the cabinet for China A bit of a tough luck for India, Manush lost 3-1 Now it's 1-1 and you will see Ankur Bhattacharya on the table, bit of a smile exchanges among the players there But it's going to be a great match because yesterday we saw Chong Chong bomb just the way that he performed yesterday and it isn't just about the match that we saw on table number 1 but later when he was playing on another table as well and we had an eye on him, it was incredible to see the way he performed I will just get the scores for you So they were playing the quarter-final against Chinese Taipei, DPR Korea that is and Chong Chong bomb won a 5-gamer against Lin Yan Chun It was 11-4 12-14, 11-8, 4-11 18-16, but not just that, in the match that we saw him against Kazakhstan he won that in great games against Tanzar Zubanov, so a very spirited player and yes, those familiar with the Indian table tennis circuit know how good Ankur Bhattacharya is and Wang Manli off the mark yet again in this important game eyeing that 3-1 win against Kim Kim was a bit confused, should I go for a power attack on that lob ball Nanyo completely taking a grip on the game though she lost the point, but she is putting lot more pressure on Kim with her attack and keeping largely her in the center here Nanyo has changed the service angles and she could offer tough luck there Nanyo has gone back to the strategy something what Kim has been using on her I would do service from the center even I have a pretty good backhand which I would love to demonstrate there yes, exactly perfect hit for that while another intense game going on on table number three with Iran and Republic of Korea the men taking on each other and Noshal and Junsung are really battling it out in the first game again this is the second time Kim has missed a, I would say a easy ball, nothing easy going it looks easy from the distance but the ball had so much of a less spin and she is getting double minded wow wide hand open backhand and now that backhand has pushed Kim to take a time out there broken the rhythm and the confidence certainly she was on toes with her guts out just conferring with her coach there Wang Manyu in the lead now 4-2 in this fourth game the lessons have been taken the rally was controlled and dictated by Manyu there the pink pin pin her with her blocks 3-4 Manyu to serve now it is a game of grit and placement well and this is the kind of time where Wang Manyu will actually close this encounter by the looks of things because knowing her success rate may have lost the first one but just as I said that Kim has delivered a thunderous shot to ensure that she gets another point Wang Manyu just rolling forward ties her height onto her but she literally stretched her on to toes with the backhand and taking control over the rally don't want to give up a point suddenly this time Manyu didn't go for a power attack turned around hit with that sharp toss pin placing more onto the middle side of the table for the viewers who do not know why players hit the ball on the middle side so that we know that already the player the opponent is ready on to the backhand if I'll hit fast the ball will come with equal speed there so they change the spin 9th goal Manyu moving towards victory no Kim is saying I am still in the game we are still in the game for now and it's still 9-5 Wang Manyu will serve not quite serve again attempt to make it 10-6 of course she makes that 10-6 and now it's going to be match point match point for Wang pressure on Kim as she's got the serve back started well in the first game but then it's the world number 2 who means business and that's it for her a strong comeback after losing the first game and Wang Manyu took the next three this third one has gone in her favour 11-6 and now China move up 2-0 against the Republic of Korea as usual the scores are leading here even if they are losing a couple of games it's good for the country