Fan/Ding take second prelim game in table tennis worlds

BUDAPEST - Top-seeded men's and women's players from China, Fan Zhendong and Ding Ning, took their second preliminary game in the mixed doubles at the World Table Tennis Championships here on Sunday.

The two players have to go through the preliminary round since they had never paired up in a major event.

Following an 11-5, 11-8 and 11-3 win over American duo Nikhil Kumar and Lili Zhang, Fan and Ding just allowed a total of 12 points in their second outing, beating Malaysia's Muhamad Ashraf Haiqal and Ying Ho 11-7, 11-3, 11-2.