However, the Korean pair responded strongly to the early pressure, winning the second game 11-7 to level the match at 1-1. The Chinese duo quickly regained control from the third game to re-establish their lead. Ri and Kim showed their fighting spirit throughout the tournament but had to settle for silver in the end. 

The highly anticipated mixed doubles bronze medal match resulted in an end to South Korea’s 12-year Olympic medal drought in the sport. Shin Yu-bin and Lim Jong-hoon beat Hong Kong's Wong Chun Ting and Doo Hoi Kem with a dominant 4-0 victory. The Korean pair took complete control commanding a 3-0 lead and showed exceptional form throughout the match, winning 11-5, 11-7, 11-7, and 14-12 to claim the podium spot.

In singles, two-time Olympic gold-medallist Chen Meng of China carved a path to the round of 16 by defeating Sweden’s Linda Bergstrom 4-1 on Tuesday.   The Chinese star faced a fierce battle from her opponent, who claimed the opening game. She took the next few games but trailed 5-7 in the fourth. The defending champ got herself out of trouble with some half-volley drives, taking the game 11-9 for a 3-1 lead. The defending gold medalist moves into the round of 16 to face Britt Eerland.

Dimitrij Ovtcharov, Germany’s six-time Olympic medallist, continued his pursuit of a seventh medal with a 4-1 victory over Brazil’s Victor Ishiy. The Brazilian's set win after a 3-0 lead by the former world number would have been avoided. Ovtcharov missed five consecutive match points in the fourth set before refocusing to secure 11-4, 11-8, 11-9, 11-13, and 11-3 victory over Ishiy. He now faces a duel for the quarterfinals against France's 17-year-old superstar Felix Lebrun. 

Brazil’s Hugo Calderano is set to face the other Lebrun brother, Alexis, after a 4-2 victory over Spaniard Alvaro Robles. Japan’s Shunsuke Togami has also secured his place in the Round of 16 after a hard-fought battle against Slovenia’s Deni Kozul. And so has Bernadette Szocs of Romania after a 4-1 victory over Ukraine’s Margaryta Pesotska. Szocs will now face Sofia Polcanova in a highly anticipated clash.

In a magnificent display of resilience, Poland’s Natalia Bajor triumphed over Portugal’s Fu Yu — clawing her way back to the lead after being fiercely dominated by Yu. Nina Mittelham was not as successful in her comeback attempt, however. The German was struck with back pain during her dramatic match with North Korea’s Pyon Song Gyong —needing a break and medical attention— that ended with a nearly identical point count and Mittelham’s elimination.

Table tennis resumes tomorrow at 10:00 CEST with men's and women’s singles.