Chinese paddler Ma Long celebrates winning the ITTF Men's World Cup semifinal match against Japan's Tomokazu Harimoto in Weihai, Shandong province, on Nov 15, 2020. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

WEIHAI - World champion Ma Long came back from 3-1 down to beat Tomokazu Harimoto of Japan in the ITTF Men's World Cup semifinals here on Sunday, taking revenge for the defeat at the 2019 World Cup.

Ma launched a 5-0 run in the opening set to win at 11-7, but the Japanese teenager rallied back and took the following three straight sets 11-3, 11-6, 11-8.

Tomokazu Harimoto of Japan serves during the ITTF Men's World Cup semifinal match against China's Ma Long (not in frame), in Weihai, Shandong province, on Nov 15, 2020. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

Using his timeout call to disrupt Harimoto's rhythm in the fifth set, the world champion triumphed 11-8 to bring the match into the sixth set in which he pulled level 11-6.

Building from where he left off, Ma carried his momentum into the decider and nailed the victory 11-4.

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Ma Long of China returns the ball back to Japan's Tomokazu Harimoto (not in frame) during the ITTF Men's World Cup semifinal match in Weihai, Shandong province, on Nov 15, 2020. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

"I had expected this would be a tough match, as I lost to the opponent two times before. When I fell behind today, I managed to regain my rhythm," said Ma.

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Defending champion Fan Zhendong withstood a little challenge from Jang Woo-jin of South Korea to march into the finals 11-5, 11-8, 13-11, 11-8, securing the champion of the World Cup for China.