World Team Table Tennis Championships in Guangzhou, China
Medals Reserved, Colour Unknown
China, Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan; the top four seeds
booked their places in the semi-finals of the women’s
event at the Evergrande World Team Championships in Guangzhou
on Thursday 28th February 2008.
The Chinese trio of Zhang Yining, Guo Yue and Li Xiaoxia
overcame the teenage Romanian team of Elizabeta Samara, Daniela
Dodean and Cristina Hirici by three matches to nil; a score
line that was also posted by Singapore and Japan.
Undoubtedly one of the teams to impress in Guangzhou, the
Japanese trio of Ai Fukuhara, Sayaka Hirano and Haruna Fukuoka
gave a thoroughly professional performance to beat the Hungarian
team of Krisztina Toth, Georgina Pota and Petra Lovas.
Meanwhile, for the Singaporeans matters came to an unexpected
and unfortunate end against the Netherlands. Li Jia Wei beat
Elena Timina and Feng Tianwei overcame Li Jiao to give Singapore
a two-nil lead, then for the latter disaster struck. Early
into the opening game against Wang Yue Gu, Li Jie twisted
her ankle and could not continue. Wang Yue Gu without raising
too much perspiration had secured victory for Singapore.
Comfortable victories for China, Singapore and Japan at the
semi-final stage but not for Hong Kong; they were given a
real fright by Austria. The latter’s Liu Jia beat Jiang
Huajun and Tie Yana but a vital third win proved elusive for
the European team. Lin Ling overcame Veronika Heine whilst
both Tie Yana and Jiang Huajun accounted for Li Qiangbing.
Men’s Team Event
Meanwhile, in the Men’s Team event China, Korea, Hong
Kong and Japan emerged in first place in the respective groups
on the conclusion of the first stage matches.
China ended their programme with Ma Lin, Wang Hao and Wang
Liqin recording a three-nil win over the Italians, Yang Min,
Mihai Bobocica and Mattia Crottia whilst Korea, fielding a
trio of Kim Jung Hoon, Lee Jung Woo and Lee Jin Kwon, secured
a three-one success over the Hungarians Daniel Zwickl, Janos
Jakab and Ferenc Paszy. The one success for the latter came
from Daniel Zwickl in the opening encounter against Kim Jung
Hoon.
A three-one success for China and the same for the Japanese
threesome of Seiya Kishikawa, Kan Yo and Hidetoshi Oya; they
defeated Serbians Slobodan Grujic, Aleksandar Karakasevic
and Zsolt Pete by three matches to one with the one Japanese
reverse being the defeat of Hidetoshi Oya by Zsolt Pete.
Comparatively comfortable passages for China, Korea and Japan
but not for Hong Kong; they trailed Belarus by two matches
to nil before recovering. Vitaly Nekhvedovich and Vladimir
Samsonov beat Tang Peng and Li Ching respectively to put Belarus
two-nil ahead but they enjoyed no more successes. Ko Lai Chak
defeated Evgueni Chtchetinnine, Tang Peng won a thrilling
duel against Vladimir Samsonov and Li Ching completed the
recovery with victory over Vitaly Nekhvedovich.
The four group winners therefore progressed directly to the
quarter-finals, with the teams finishing in second and third
places being required to play in round one in the evening
session of play.
Tension filled the air with hard fought matches being the
order of the day as the Czech Republic succeeded against Singapore
whilst Romania beat Russia, Chinese Taipei accounted for Denmark
and Germany prevailed in opposition to Austria.
In the quarter-finals China plays the Czech Republic, Hong
Kong meets Romania, Japan confronts Chinese Taipei and Korea
opposes Germany.
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"Source:
ITTF Press Release