For China's table tennis coaches, the best seat in the house is far from the action. While this may seem counterintuitive, it is often the case that the coaches can relax and enjoy the match, knowing that they have already won. While the coaching staff for the Chinese national team is famously competitive and all too happy to micromanage their players, they take a break when two Chinese players clash. If this happens to be in the finals, all the better, for the players may fight for individual glory but the coach has already won the gold. Such a scenario remains possible at the Olympic Sports Centre in Zhengzhou, China, site of the 2020 ITTF Finals. With four Chinese nationals in both the women's and men's draws, each bore the distinct possibility of an all-domestic semifinal. Everything was unfolding according to plan. In the women's draw, top seed Chen Meng will face compatriot Sun Yingsha. In the other side of the draw, Wang Manyu awaited the winner of the quarterfinal clash between her countrywoman Wang Midi and Japan's Mima Ito. Should Wang Midi prevail, the women's coaches could officially clock out, grab some refreshments and find a comfy seat up in the stands, the gold medal assured for the host nation. Everything was going according to plan until Mima Ito overcame Wang Yidi in seven games, (6-11, 11-8, 11-13, 11-4, 11-7, 7-11, 11-5). In parallel fashion, the Chinese men systematically booked spots in the semis, with Ma Long facing Xu Xin on side and world #1 Fan Zhendong awaiting the winner of his teammate Lin Gaoyuan and Jang Woojin of the Republic of Korea. Once again, the foreign guest took advantage of the host's hospitality as Jang upset Lin, (11-7, 10-12, 1-11, 11-7, 12-10, 8-11, 11-6). Owing to Ito and Jang's obstreperousness, the famously hardworking Chinese coaches must work on the weekend. There is still a chance they can take the finals off, but Mima Ito and Jang Woojin hope to make them earn extra overtime.

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