Chinese duo Wang Liqin and Guo Yue have succeeded in defending
their mixed doubles title at the World Table Tennis Championships
by beating compatriots Ma Lin and Wang Nan on Friday.
The gold, the first at the tournament in Zagreb, Croatia, is
also China's ninth straight mixed doubles title from the event.
Another Chinese pair, Qiu Yike and Cao Zhen shared third place
with Hong Kong players Ko Lai Chak and Tie Yana.
China also showed dominance in both the men's doubles and
women's singles competitions.
The teams of Ma Lin and Chen Qi, and Wang Liqin and Wang Hao
have set up an all-Chinese final in the men's doubles after edging
out Hong Kong's Ko Lai Chak and Li Ching, and Chang Yen-Shu and
Chiang Peng-Lung from Chinese Taipei.
World number one Zhang Yining and youngster Guo Yue, along with
Li Xiaoxia and Guo Yan have secured the women's singles' title for
China after notching up all four semi-final berths.
Veteran Wang Nan's failure to proceed as one of the four
finalists was China's only regret of the day. She lost to teammate
Li Xiaoxia in five sets. For the second time, Wang Nan was blocked
out of the women's semi-final round at the world championships.
However, the former world top gun still holds an opportunity to
expand her collection of 19 world titles, as she and Zhang Yining
advance into the semi's of the women's doubles.
The only uncertainty in China's ambition to sweep all five
titles at Zagreb is the men's singles. Defending champion Wang
Liqin, and Hao Shuai will go head-to-head in the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile Ma Lin is to face Vladimir Samsonov of Belarus, and Wang
Hao plays South Korean Joo Se Hyuk.
German legend Timo Boll will clash with Korean Ryu Seung Min for
the last semi-final spot.
(Xinhua News Agency May 26, 2007)
