World Team Cup
World Champion Beaten but China Unbeaten
Wang Liqin, the reigning Men’s Singles World champion,
suffered defeat on the opening day of play, Friday 5th October
2007, in the men’s event at the World Team Cup in Magdeburg;
he was beaten in four games by Leung Chu Yan in the contest
against Hong Kong.
However, that was the only reverse in the fixture for China.
Ma Lin beat Cheung Yuk; Wang Liqin overcame Li Ching whilst
Wang Hao and Ma Lin combined to win the doubles against Cheung
Yuk and Li Ching.
China finished the day in top place in Group `A’, having
earlier beaten Russia with Hong Kong and France both having
one win each. Hong Kong defeated France in their opening duel,
the Frenchmen later returning to form to beat Russia.
Meanwhile, in Group `B’ of the men’s event it
both Austria and Korea finished the day with two wins each.
Both beat Germany and the Czech Republic; the hosts being
without the services of Timo Boll. He was absent through having
a cold.
One match remains in each group with Austria and Korea certain
of a semi-final place whilst China and Hong Kong are odds
on favourites to book a place in stage two.
In the women’s event China and Korea both finished the
day unbeaten.
In Group `A’, China fielding the team of Zhang Yining,
Li Xiaoxia and Wang Nan on both occasions, overcame Hungary
and Japan whilst in Group `B’ Korea won hard fought
duels against Hong Kong and Austria.
In Group `A’ second place is occupied by Hungary who
ended the day with victory over Germany who are third having
beaten Japan in their opening match.
Second place in Group `B’ is owned jointly by Austria
and Hong Kong; both beat luckless Belarus, the duel between
Hong Kong and Belarus being a most hard fought affair. The
contest lasted fifteen minutes short of four hours with four
of the five matches going the full five games distance.
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"Source:
ITTF Press Release