Tournament of Champions
Successful Day for China
It was a successful day in Changsha, China for the host nation
on Friday 21st December 2007, the opening day of play at the
Tournament of Champions; the final event of the year on the
calendar of the International Table Tennis Federation.
In the Men’s Singles event there were successes for
Wang Hao, Ma Lin and Wang Liqin whilst in the counterpart
female event victories went the way of Guo Yue, Wang Nan and
Li Xiaoxia.
Guo Yue started the proceedings in the elite tournament in
front of Hunan Television cameras; a competition to which
eight of the world’s leading male and female players
had been invited.
She beat Japan’s Ai Fukuhara in straight games with
compatriot, Li Xiaoxia, soon following suit to overcome Croatia’s
Tamara Boros, the latter securing the opening game but no
more.
A successful first session of play for China in the Women’s
Singles event and it was a successful second session of play
for the home nation. Wang Nan beat Hong Kong China’s
Jiang Huajun in six games after Wang Yue Gu had won the all-Singapore
duel by beating Li Jia Wei by the same margin.
Meanwhile, for the men it was a similar story with the only
non Chinese player remaining being Vladimir Samsonov of Belarus.
He beat Korea’s Ryu Seung Min in straight games before
the Chinese trio came to the fore to assert their authority
non matters.
Wang Hao defeated Singapore’s Gao Ning in straight
games, Ma Lin overcame Ryu Seung Min’s compatriot Joo
Se Hyk in six games before Wang Liqin brought matters to a
conclusion with victory over Germany’s Timo Boll.
Women’s Singles Quarter-Finals
Guo Yue (CHN) bt Ai Fukuhara (JPN) 9-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-7,
12-10
Li Xiaoxia (CHN) bt Tamara Boros (HRV) 9-11, 11-8, 11-5,
11-7, 12-10
Wang Yue Gu (SIN) bt Li Jia Wei (SIN) 11-4, 12-14, 5-11,
14-12, 13-11, 11-7
Wang Nan (CHN) bt Jiang Huajun (HKG) 11-7, 11-8, 8-11, 11-9,
4-11, 11-8
Men’s Singles Quarter-Finals
Vladimir Samsonov (BLR) bt Ryu Seung Min (KOR) 11-7, 11-4,
11-8, 14-12
Wang Hao (CHN) bt Gao Ning (SIN) 11-8, 11-6, 11-9, 14—12
Ma Lin (CHN) bt Joo Se Hyuk (KOR) 11-3, 9-11, 12-14, 11-8,
11-7, 11-4
Wang Liqin (CHN) bt Timo Boll (GER) 11-7, 11-8, 6-11, 11-7,
11-9
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"Source:
ITTF Press Release