Date:05/05/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/05/05/stories/2005050503762100.htm

Sport - Table Tennis

China lands first gold

SHANGHAI: China moved claimed its first gold medal at the World table tennis championhips when Wang Liqin and Guo Yue, ranked second, won the mixed doubles final against teammates Liu Guozheng and Bai Yang 11-4, 6-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-9, 7-11, 11-6.

Meanwhile, there was an upset for the Chinese men with third-seeded Wang Hao completely outclassed by little known Dane Michael Maze in the fourth round.

Also into the quarterfinals are China's Chen Qi, Hao Shuai and Ma Lin, Sweden's Peter Karlsson and Oh Sang Eun of South Korea, who beat world No.4 Vladimir Samsonov from Belarus.

After Wednesday's quarterfinal action, China is left with three players in the women's singles bidding to add that title to the communist country's bulging table tennis trophy cabinet.

Top-seeded Zhang Yining was in awesome form, slaying South Korea's Kim Hyang Mi in the fourth round on Wednesday morning before coming back to drive the dagger into Viktoria Pavlovich of Belarus.

With triple champion Wang Nan pondering her future after a shock exit on Tuesday, and high-serving World No.4 Tamara Boros falling to Hong Kong's Lin Ling Wednesday, Zhang looks unstoppable.

Her compatriots Guo Yan and Guo Yue are also through along with Hong Kong's Lin. Guo Yue, an emerging star aged 17, saw off third-seeded Niu Jianfeng, her doubles partner.

Germany's Timo Boll and Christian Suess stand in the home team's way in the men's doubles, thrashing tournament favourites Ma Lin and Chen Qi to set up a gold medal showdown with Kong Linghui and Wang Hao.

The results:

Men: Doubles (semifinals): Timo Boll/ Christian Suess (Ger) bt Chen Qi/Ma Lin (Chn) 13-11, 3-11, 11-6, 15-13, 11-7; Kong Linghui/Wang Hao (Chn) bt Wang Liqin/Yan Sen (Chn) 13-11, 11-8, 2-11, 7-11, 11-7, 12-10.

Women: Singles (quarterfinals): Zhang Yining (Chn) bt Veronika Pavlovich (Blr) 11-5, 11-2, 11-4, 11-2; Lin Ling (HK) bt Jun Gao (U.S.) 11-5, 11-7, 9-11, 11-8, 11-4; Guo Yue (Chn) bt Niu Jianfeng (Chn) 11-13, 12-10, 12-10, 11-7, 9-11, 11-7; Guo Yan (Chn) bt Jiao Li (Ned) 11-2, 11-5, 12-10, 11-6.

Mixed doubles: Final: Wang Liqin/Guo Yue (Chn) bt Liu Guozheng/Bai Yang (Chn) 11-4, 6-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-9, 7-11, 11-6. — Agencies