We knew the challenge would be extremely complicated. Facing the four-time reigning Chinese Olympic champions, Félix Lebrun, Alexis Lebrun and Simon Gauzy could never have hoped for much, Thursday, August 8, in the semi-finals of the team table tennis tournament at the Paris Olympic Games.
They failed to bring down the Chinese armada and will try to console themselves with bronze on Friday August 9 (10 a.m.) against Japan.
A defeat in three straight matches. The suspense did not last very long. After the inaugural defeat of the Alexis Lebrun-Simon Gauzy double (0-3), neither Félix Lebrun (1-3) nor Alexis Lebrun (1-3) managed to raise the bar in singles. If spectacular exchanges amazed the spectators of the Arena Paris Sud, the feat was never within reach.
China still in the final. As has been the case since the event was introduced to the Olympic programme in 2008, China will be fighting for team gold. Four-time reigning Olympic champions Ma Long and his teammates are aiming to lift a fifth crown on Friday 9 August at 3pm against Sweden.
Bronze in sight for the Blues. After delivering a nice fight but not enough to shake the Great Wall of China, the French table tennis players will try to pull themselves together to win the bronze. This will also happen on Friday, but from 10am against Japan.
