Japan Overcomes China in Olympic Ping Pong, Stereotype Remains Unchanged

Japan Upsets China and All of Asian-America

By: Victor Tran

July 29, 2021

In a seven game thriller, Japan defeated China’s streak to win a gold medal in mixed-doubles Ping Pong. China was the heavy favorite, as they swept every table tennis event in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games. 

As the Japanese celebrated their victory, Asian-Americans were horrified. The stereotype of East Asians being good at table tennis has doubly strengthened, now that a new East Asian country has won Olympic gold. “We were rooting for Nigeria, to be honest,” said American high schooler, Kenji Yamamoto.  

In fact, Asian Americans refuse to even acknowledge Japan’s Olympic gold in ping pong. They celebrate the wins of the Japanese skateboarders, Yuto Horigome and Momiji Nishiya and ONLY THEM. “Ping Pong won’t get me laid, but Momiji might,” continued Kenji. 

Until then, Asians in the US remain adamant that not ALL Asians are good at ping pong. Mixed Doubles finalists Jun Mizutani, Mima Ito, Xu Xin and Liu Shiwen argue, “Yes, we are.”