BEIJING — China overpowered Germany 3-0 on Monday to win the gold medal in men's team table tennis.

Led by Wang Hao, the world's top player, the Chinese team of former Olympic medalists dominated throughout the contest to secure China's second table tennis gold in as many days.

A few tense moments came during the match between Ma Lin, the world's second-ranked player, and No. 6 Timo Boll, the top European threat to the Chinese in the upcoming singles competition.

Boll had previously beaten all three of China's players during the World Cup in 2005, but managed only to win one of his four games against Ma.

The Chinese women's team beat Singapore the previous night to take the gold. China has captured 18 of the 22 table tennis golds awarded since the sport was added to the Olympics in 1988.

Monday's medals were the first to be awarded in men's team table tennis, which has replaced the doubles competition.

The top-ranked Chinese generally play closer to the table while the No. 2 Germans tend to fall back 10 feet and take big swings at the ball. But the Chinese were equally proficient from any distance, forcing the Europeans into off-target returns.

Wang made quick work of Dimitrij Ovtcharov, one of the pingpong's rising stars who was hapless against his more experienced opponent. The 19-year-old could only lunge for the ball, struggling to string together returns for a rally.

Ovtcharov drew chuckles from the crowd with his unusual serve. The lanky, 6-foot-1 player would crouch down to where he was eye level with the table, then unfold himself slowly before smacking the ball away with a backhand.

The final point in that match had Ovtcharov falling nearly to the ground to catch the ball. Wang jumped in the air after sealing his win, yelling and waving his paddle like a rock star brandishing a guitar.

A partisan home crowd cheered on the Chinese, waving flags and rattling plastic noisemakers. Shouts of "Ti-mo! Ti-Mo!" were drowned out by chants of "Go China!" though the spectators cheered for exciting rallies even when Germany ended up winning the point.

The announcer tried to lessen the home field advantage somewhat by leading cheers of "Go China! Go Germany!"

Germany has never beaten China in their 18 meetings.