Hong Kong came from behind twice to beat Japan and reach the final of the women's competition at the World Team Championships in Bremen, Germany, yesterday.
The SAR team prevailed 3-2 in a gruelling three-hour semi-final which saw world number eight Tie Yana snatch two crucial points while Lin Ling, a bronze medallist at the individual World Championships in Shanghai last year, sealed the victory in the deciding rubber.
Hong Kong coach Li Huifen was delighted afterwards.
'Japan are a difficult team to handle, but we won in the end and I'm quite satisfied with my players' performances,' she said.
Hong Kong will now meet defending champions China - 3-0 winners over Belarus -in today's final, a repeat of the championship match in Doha, Qatar, two years ago which China won 3-0.
'All I can say is our team will try their best,' said Li.
Ai Fukuhara, ranked 17th in the world, scored a 3-1 win over Lin in the opening rubber but Tie, who also represented Hong Kong at the last world team event, levelled the score when she beat Japan's national champion, Saki Kanazawa, in a five-set thriller.
