Salwa Cup Kuwait Open
Perfect Record on ITTF Pro Tour for Vladimir Samsonov
Vladimir Samsonov of Belarus, the number five seed, maintained
his perfect record on the ITTF Pro Tour in 2008 when he won
the Men’s Singles title at the Salwa Cup Kuwait Open
beating sixth seed, China’s Chen Qi in the final.
In January he had won at the Slovenian Open in Gorenje; on
Sunday 16th March 2008 in the Qadisya Sports Hall in Kuwait
City he emerged successful in the second ITTF Pro Tour tournament
of the current year. He beat the defending champion, China’s
Ma Long at the semi-final stage before ousting Chen Qi in
straight games to secure the top prize.
Defeat for China in the Men’s Singles final but not
in the remaining three events contested on Sunday 16th March
2008.
Top seed, Zhang Yining clinched the Women’s Singles
crown overcoming colleagues Wang Nan and Li Xiaoxia at the
respective semi-final and final stages.
The reigning Olympic Women’s Singles champion, Zhang
Yining emerged as the most successful player in the tournament;
in the first final of the afternoon she partnered Wang Nan
to Women’s Doubles gold. The pair defeated Singapore’s
Li Jia Wei and Sun Bei Bei to secure the prestigious crown.
Silver for Chen Qi in the Men’s Singles event and it
was the same scenario in the Men’s Doubles competition
for the talented Chinese left hander. Partnering Zhang Jike
the pair suffered at the hands of top seeds, Ma Lin and Wang
Hao.
Men’s Singles
SF Vladimir Samsonov (BLR) bt Ma Long (CHN) 7-11, 4-11, 11-8,
11-8, 9-11, 11-9, 11-8
SF Chen Qi (CHN) bt Yoon Jae Young (KOR) 11-6, 8-11, 11-9,
11-2, 10-12, 15-17, 11-9
F Vladimir Samsonov (BLR) bt Ma Long (CHN) 12-10, 14-12,
11-7, 11-4
Women’s Singles
SF Zhang Yining (CHN) bt Wang Nan (CHN) 11-9, 11-2, 11-6,
11-1
SF Li Xiaoxia (CHN) bt Guo Yue (CHN) 11-6, 7-11, 11-2, 12-10,
11-8
F Zhang Yining (CHN) by Li Xiaoxia (CHN) 16-14, 11-4, 11-8,
9-11, 7-11, 11-8
Men’s Doubles
F Ma Lin/Wang Hao (CHN) bt Chen Qi/Zhang Jike (CHN) 11-6,
11-9, 12-10, 11-7
Women’s Doubles
F Wang Nan/Zhang Yining (CHN) bt Li Jia Wei/Sun Bei Bei (SIN)
9-11, 11-4, 11-8, 14-16, 11-4, 11-3
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"Source:
ITTF Press Release