Table tennis powerhouse China has been too strong for any opponents as its reserving squad took a 3-0 win over Hong Kong team here on Tuesday to make the men's team final at the Olympic test event.
Ma Long and Chen Qi has paired up on a temporary base as the "Good Luck Beijing" International Table Tennis Invitational tournament, mostly aiming to test the operation and facility of the Olympic table tennis venue of the Beijing University Gymnasium, gives few reference to the Olympic line-up of team events.
The new pair, however, did not hesitate against Hong Kong's Li Ching and Ko Lai Chak, beating the Athens Olympic silver medalists11-7, 11-4, 11-5 breezily to make it short work for China to reach Wednesday's final of the men's team event.
Earlier in the second singles match between the two sides, Hao Shuai won a top-spin rally of over 20 hits against Tang Peng in the decisive set for a 11-6, 11-8, 7-11, 5-11, 11-9 full-set victory, after his teammate Ma Long bt Li Ching 11-8, 11-6, 11-6.
With the victory, China set up a final clash against arch-rivals South Korea after the latter pulled down the Europe United 3-0 on Tuesday afternoon.
Lee Jung Woo, who plays traditional "Korean" style like former Olympian and the national head coach Yoo Nam Kyu, defeated under-21 player Tiago Apolonia of Portugal 11-9, 3-11, 11-8, 11-6,while Lee Jin Kwon upset established Vladimir Samsonov of Belarus 8-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-8, 12-10.
Doubles specialists Cho Eon Rae and Lee Jung Woo beat Apolonia and his Croatian partner Andrej Gacina 13-11, 11-6, 11-5 to seal the victory.
"It's the first time that I've played Lee Jung Woo and I had problems returning his services. I wasn't expected to win, he is ranked higher than me," said Apolonia.
Source: Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article