This victory also allowed the host country to top the Olympic medal list with 8 gold medals at the end of the day’s competition, one more than the United States.
Prior to this, the Chinese team had won 28 of 32 gold medals in the history of Olympic table tennis, and was cleaned up again in the Japanese capital.
“We were beaten by China many times at the Olympics and World Championships, but we avenged our revenge at the Tokyo Olympics. I am very happy,” Mizutani said.
Second seeds Mizutani and Ito were on the brink of the quarterfinals in Sunday’s game against German duo Patrick Franziska and Patriza Solga, but saved in the seventh game. He won 16-14 by seven match points.
This is the first time that a mixed doubles event has been held at the Olympics.
The 20-year-old Ito said: “I’m very happy. I can make it to the end without giving up. I enjoyed the whole game.”
Zheng Yiqing and Lin Yunju defeated French combination Emmanuel Lebesson and Yuan Jianan 11-8, 11-7, 11-8, and 11-5 to win the bronze medal for Taiwan.
