China have thus reached all but one of the 10 finals that have been staged since this team event started in 1990, and for the pair who won their opening match with clinical efficiency, Ma Long and Xu Xin, it will be a sixth final experience.

But their opponents in tomorrow’s final, Japan, will believe anything is possible after their extraordinary 3-2 win over South Korea in the second semi-final, in which Jin Ueda saved no less than five match points against Jeong Sangeun before winning the decisive final match 3-2.

South Korea had earlier added to the drama by coming back from two games down to level at 2-2 in a match where Lee Sangsu saved two match points against Tomokazu Harimoto.

The hosts had raised excitement levels by winning last night's quarter-final against Pan American champions Brazil, but, for all their determined efforts, Paul Drinkhall and Sam Walker could make no impression on the Chinese pair, world champions seven years ago, as they lost in straight games, 11-2, 11-7, 11-4.

Fan Zhendong then settled the issue with a 3-1 win over Liam Pitchford, although the Englishman made him work for it, winning the first game 11-8 and taking a 5-1 lead in the third after his Chinese opponent had drawn level.

In the end, however, the world number two proved to strong, coming through 8-11, 11-3, 11-9, 11-9.

"It is the first time that I have ever played Liam; he’s very good, I was pleased to eventually win," said Fan.

China’s world and Olympic champion Ma Long then concluded proceedings with an 11-5, 11-1, 11-2 win over Sam Walker.

England, then, had to settle for a bronze that was only the second medal they have won in the history of this event, having won a medal of the same colour in the first edition at Chiba in 1990.

"Against Fan Zhendong, I had chances in the second and third games but he is such a good player," said Pitchford.

"I am happy with the way I played against him.

“To get a medal in this competition was a big surprise.

“It is a good situation for us going into another big event, the Commonwealth Games in Australia."

Ma afterwards underlined the characteristic thoroughness of the Chinese preparation: "I studied videos of Sam so I was prepared.

"It helped that Fan Zhendong beat Liam Pitchford so I was very relaxed.

"Now I must rest and then come back to watch the next semi-final later today.

“We always want to be the best in whatever we are doing and that is what has been keeping us strong as a team."

China’s women are even more dominant than their male counterparts in this competition, having won nine of the past 10 finals, and the last seven consecutively.

They moved through to the final with a 3-0 win over Hong Kong.

But a strong Japanese team seeking to challenge their long run made no mistake in the first of the semi-finals with a 3-0 win over North Korea.

It is the third time that Japan has reached the Women’s final at the ITTF Team World Cup; they were the runners up in 2011 in Magdeburg and in 2013 in Guangzhou when on both occasions Kasumi Ishikawa teamed with Ai Fukuhara and Sayaka Hirano.

Hina Hayata and Mima Ito beat Cha Hyon Sim and Kim Nam Hae in straight games, recovering from a 6-10 deficit in the third to come through 11-3, 11-8, 12-10.

Kasumi Ishikawa then decided the match with a victory that contained a large element of revenge as she defeated the player who knocked her out in the third round of the women’s singles at Rio 2016, Kim Song I.

The North Korean player, who went on to take bronze at Rio 2016, found it far harder going against Ishikawa in London, losing 11-7, 11-8, 11-7.

"Today was very different to when I lost in Rio de Janeiro; I controlled the play better today," said Ishikawa.

"At the time out in the third game, my coach Mika Baba told me to keep calm and have confidence in myself."

Hayata concluded matters by beating Cha Hyo Sim 11-8, 11-13, 11-9, 11-9.