Golden generation

Overcoming a brief scare in the second game by winning eight points in a row, Sun provided further proof that the nation's table tennis talent cultivation program remains in good health－accounting for 29 Olympic gold medals since the sport's Games debut in 1988.

Such impressive performances in Tokyo have helped partly fill the void left by the retirements of a number of international sporting icons, such as ex-NBA All-Star Yao Ming, Olympic champion hurdler Liu Xiang and tennis Grand Slam winner Li Na.

Staying at the top, however, is now the sizable challenge that awaits the younger generation as rival nations attempt to respond to China's resurgence.

"The Olympics is always the breeding ground for future stars, but our younger generation of athletes has yet to be fully tested internationally," said Tan Jianxiang, a sports sociology researcher at South China Normal University.

"The real challenge comes right after their breakout debut performances at the Olympics."