China claims men's team title in table tennis worlds
Updated: 2008-03-02 22:25
GUANGZHOU -- China claimed the men's team title at the world team table tennis championships after storming over the ambitious South Korea on Sunday.
It is the 16th Swaything Cup, or the fourth in a row, that the star-studded Chinese team has lifted.
Viewed as the most powerful squad, China hardly came across serious challenge as it eased past all rivals in the week-long tournament.
China took initiative of the playoff with world No. 2 Ma Lin playing smartly to overcame Olympic champion Ryu Seung Min 3-1 in the first outing.
Ryu said earlier that he'd like to take on Wang Hao in the final to satisfy Chinese people. Wang lost to Ryu in the Athens Olympic Games but never again since.
Wang Hao, the newly crowned World Cup champion, met hard resistance from 39th-ranked Lee Jung Woo but managed to control the competition before prevailing 3-1.
Top-class chopper Joo Se Hyuk barely built up any threat to veteran Wang Liqin, who played a heavy topspin game to score a quick win, completing a 3-0 sweep for the Chinese team.
South Korea, who finished runner-up at the last worlds, has proven its strength by brushing aside formidable Germany and ousted Japan in quarter and semifinals.
Liu Guoliang, head coach of the Chinese team, has mentioned Ryu and Joo for their impressive play, saying they are in very good shape.
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|