Olympic Decision Reversed
In August 2004 in the Galatsi Stadium in Athens, Korea’s
Ryu Seung Min beat China’s Wang Hao to claim the gold
medal in the Men’s Singles event; in Barcelona in the
final of the Liebherr Men’s World Cup on Sunday 14th
October 2007, Wang Hao reversed that decision by securing
a straight games victory.
Earlier in the proceeding Wang Hao had beaten Germany’s
Timo Boll at the semi-final stage to book his place in the
final; his successes justified his top seeded position in
the tournament and his current ranking of number one in the
world.
Third place went to Wang Hao’s compatriot Wang Liqin.
He had lost to Ryu Seung Min in the semis but against Timo
Boll, in the bronze medal contest, he was not to be denied.
It was the fourth time in his career that Wang Liqin, who
has won the Men’s Singles title at the World Championships
three times, has finished in third place.
He has never won the Men’s World Cup title in what
is now nine attempts.
Meanwhile, for Wang Hao, it was victory at the fifth time
of asking. In 2003 he lost in the quarter-finals, the following
year he was third whilst in 2005 and 2006 he was the runner
up.
Semi-Finals:
Wang Hao (CHN) bt Timo Boll (GER) 11-8, 11-8, 11-7, 11-4
Ryu Sung Min (KOR) bt Wang Liqin (CHN) 11-7, 4-11, 11-6,
11-3, 4-11, 11-3
Third Place:
Wang Liqin (CHN) bt Timo Boll (GER) 11-8, 11-7, 11-3, 11-9
Final:
Wang Hao (CHN) bt Ryu Seung Min (KOR) 14-12, 11-3, 11-8,
11-7
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"Source:
ITTF Press Release