DaveR
08-23-2008, 01:35 PM
China Take Olympic table tennis gold, sliver and bronze after Sweden's veteran falls
BEIJING (AFP) — China's world number one Wang Hao fought off Swedish veteran Jorgen Persson in the men's table tennis semi-finals 4-1 on Saturday, ensuring the host nation gold in the premier event.
Wang overcame a courageous Persson, who at 42 has played in all six Olympics since table tennis was included, and was the last man standing against the Chinese Wall, for a 11-9, 11-9, 9-11, 11-7, 11-9 victory.
Wang was in tears after the match, hugging his coach, and relieved at having the chance to win his first gold in the event, and avenge his shock upset in the final in Athens four years ago.
"We lost the men's singles title four years ago, and to have regained it in 2008, we are very excited. Table tennis is our national sport. We have shown this to the crowd today," said head coach Liu Guoliang.
Wang, 24, faces a showdown for gold with world number two Ma Lin after he surived a thriller against teammate Wang Liqin in their semi-final.
Ma won the first three sets before Wang Liqin came storming back to win the next two, and he held off a ferocious charge from his teammate in the sixth game to eventually win 11-5, 11-9, 11-9, 10-12, 3-11, 11-8.
Guoliang hailed Hao's win but paid homage to the Swede, describing him as one of the sport's greatest players.
The loss was disappointment for Persson, playing at probably his last Olympics, and still hunting for his first Olympic medal.
Persson, the 1991 world champion, who is unseeded here, must now steel himself for a showdown with world number four and three-time world champion Wang Liqin for bronze.
"It's a hard (Chinese) wall to break, but it's possible," Persson said.
"Unfortunately I lose two close sets today and I had been winning a lot (of close sets) during the tournament. But today he was the stronger in the end."
The Swedish champion has powered on in Beijing while Europe's biggest and younger stars have fallen early from this tournament.
Wang edged out Persson in the first two sets, before the Swede nudged ahead in the third -- Wang apparently rattled by an umpiring decision on whether the ball hit the table surface or edge during a point.
But Wang steadied in the fourth, winning some lengthy and spectacular rallies between the pair. Persson hung on in the fifth, levelling at 9-9, bringing roars from the Swedish supporters, before Wang edged him out.
Ma Lin Faced the World number one - Wang Hao in a wonderful final with explosive shots firing in from both parties involved. The sharpness and strength of Lin made light work of the number ones power backhands which are usually his trademark.
The sets were close with Ma Lin winning the first two with Hao responding and winning the third set, then looking like he had a foothold in the fourth but sadly could not push Lin right to the wire losing out in the crucial fourth set.
Ma Lin then followed quite comfortably in the final fifth set giving him the crown after four years previous in Athens. Wang Hao looked slightly bewildered in the final end with a look of "what can i do?" written on his tired face.
The Womens Title was taken by
ZHANG Yining (http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/BIO/Athlete/3/236893.shtml)
Who beat WANG Nan (http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/BIO/Athlete/1/243591.shtml)
The Women's Singles Table Tennis semifinal between Zhang Yining of China and Li Jia Wei of Singapore was held at the Peking University Gymnasium on day fourteen of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 22, 2008 in Beijing, China. Zhang Yining won the match 4-1.
http://img06.beijing2008.cn/20080822/Img214573678.jpg
Li Jia Wei plays a shot.
http://img07.beijing2008.cn/20080822/Img214573679.jpg
Zhang Yining competes.
http://img07.beijing2008.cn/20080822/Img214573680.jpg
Li Jia Wei competes.
http://img11.beijing2008.cn/20080822/Img214573681.jpg
Zhang Yining celebrates.
Full sets results etc
Women's singles
Semi-finals
Zhang Yining (CHN) bt Li Jia Wei (SIN) 4-1 (9-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-8, 11-5)
Wang Nan (CHN) bt Guo Yue (CHN) 4-2 (3-11, 11-8, 4-11, 11-7, 11-3, 11-6)
Bronze medal match
Guo Yue (CHN) bt Li Jia Wei (SIN) 4-2 (11-6, 14-12, 9-11, 7-11, 11-3, 11-4)
Gold medal match
Zhang Yining (CHN) bt Wang Nan (CHN) 4-1 (8-11, 13-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-3)
Men's singles
Quarter-finals
Wang Hao (CHN) bt Ko Lai Chak (HKG) 4-1 (11-7, 8-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-9)
Jorgen Persson (SWE) bt Zoran Primorac (CRO) 4-1 (7-11, 11-6, 11-8, 14-12, 11-9)
Wang Liqin (CHN) bt Tan Ruiwu (CRO) 4-0 (11-7, 11-5, 11-8, 11-8)
Ma Lin (CHN) bt Oh Sang-Eun (KOR) 4-0 (11-3, 11-5, 11-9, 12-10)
BEIJING (AFP) — China's world number one Wang Hao fought off Swedish veteran Jorgen Persson in the men's table tennis semi-finals 4-1 on Saturday, ensuring the host nation gold in the premier event.
Wang overcame a courageous Persson, who at 42 has played in all six Olympics since table tennis was included, and was the last man standing against the Chinese Wall, for a 11-9, 11-9, 9-11, 11-7, 11-9 victory.
Wang was in tears after the match, hugging his coach, and relieved at having the chance to win his first gold in the event, and avenge his shock upset in the final in Athens four years ago.
"We lost the men's singles title four years ago, and to have regained it in 2008, we are very excited. Table tennis is our national sport. We have shown this to the crowd today," said head coach Liu Guoliang.
Wang, 24, faces a showdown for gold with world number two Ma Lin after he surived a thriller against teammate Wang Liqin in their semi-final.
Ma won the first three sets before Wang Liqin came storming back to win the next two, and he held off a ferocious charge from his teammate in the sixth game to eventually win 11-5, 11-9, 11-9, 10-12, 3-11, 11-8.
Guoliang hailed Hao's win but paid homage to the Swede, describing him as one of the sport's greatest players.
The loss was disappointment for Persson, playing at probably his last Olympics, and still hunting for his first Olympic medal.
Persson, the 1991 world champion, who is unseeded here, must now steel himself for a showdown with world number four and three-time world champion Wang Liqin for bronze.
"It's a hard (Chinese) wall to break, but it's possible," Persson said.
"Unfortunately I lose two close sets today and I had been winning a lot (of close sets) during the tournament. But today he was the stronger in the end."
The Swedish champion has powered on in Beijing while Europe's biggest and younger stars have fallen early from this tournament.
Wang edged out Persson in the first two sets, before the Swede nudged ahead in the third -- Wang apparently rattled by an umpiring decision on whether the ball hit the table surface or edge during a point.
But Wang steadied in the fourth, winning some lengthy and spectacular rallies between the pair. Persson hung on in the fifth, levelling at 9-9, bringing roars from the Swedish supporters, before Wang edged him out.
Ma Lin Faced the World number one - Wang Hao in a wonderful final with explosive shots firing in from both parties involved. The sharpness and strength of Lin made light work of the number ones power backhands which are usually his trademark.
The sets were close with Ma Lin winning the first two with Hao responding and winning the third set, then looking like he had a foothold in the fourth but sadly could not push Lin right to the wire losing out in the crucial fourth set.
Ma Lin then followed quite comfortably in the final fifth set giving him the crown after four years previous in Athens. Wang Hao looked slightly bewildered in the final end with a look of "what can i do?" written on his tired face.
The Womens Title was taken by
ZHANG Yining (http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/BIO/Athlete/3/236893.shtml)
Who beat WANG Nan (http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/BIO/Athlete/1/243591.shtml)
The Women's Singles Table Tennis semifinal between Zhang Yining of China and Li Jia Wei of Singapore was held at the Peking University Gymnasium on day fourteen of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 22, 2008 in Beijing, China. Zhang Yining won the match 4-1.
http://img06.beijing2008.cn/20080822/Img214573678.jpg
Li Jia Wei plays a shot.
http://img07.beijing2008.cn/20080822/Img214573679.jpg
Zhang Yining competes.
http://img07.beijing2008.cn/20080822/Img214573680.jpg
Li Jia Wei competes.
http://img11.beijing2008.cn/20080822/Img214573681.jpg
Zhang Yining celebrates.
Full sets results etc
Women's singles
Semi-finals
Zhang Yining (CHN) bt Li Jia Wei (SIN) 4-1 (9-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-8, 11-5)
Wang Nan (CHN) bt Guo Yue (CHN) 4-2 (3-11, 11-8, 4-11, 11-7, 11-3, 11-6)
Bronze medal match
Guo Yue (CHN) bt Li Jia Wei (SIN) 4-2 (11-6, 14-12, 9-11, 7-11, 11-3, 11-4)
Gold medal match
Zhang Yining (CHN) bt Wang Nan (CHN) 4-1 (8-11, 13-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-3)
Men's singles
Quarter-finals
Wang Hao (CHN) bt Ko Lai Chak (HKG) 4-1 (11-7, 8-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-9)
Jorgen Persson (SWE) bt Zoran Primorac (CRO) 4-1 (7-11, 11-6, 11-8, 14-12, 11-9)
Wang Liqin (CHN) bt Tan Ruiwu (CRO) 4-0 (11-7, 11-5, 11-8, 11-8)
Ma Lin (CHN) bt Oh Sang-Eun (KOR) 4-0 (11-3, 11-5, 11-9, 12-10)