China secures women's singles title at WTT Champions Xinxiang

BEIJING - It will be an all-Chinese affair to decide the women's singles victor at the World Table Tennis (WTT) Champions Xinxiang, as Chinese paddlers took all semifinal spots on Thursday.

In her first meeting with Mima Ito of Japan since the Tokyo Olympic Games, world No. 1 Sun Yingsha regrouped from losing 11-6 in the first game to emerge victorious 11-6, 11-9, 11-7 to secure her spot in the women's final four.

"After more than one year without playing against Ito, I just enjoyed the process. We are peers and it's always good rivalry between us. I can test my training level and find space for improvement every time when I compete with her," commented Sun.

Chen Xingtong went the full distance in outplaying teammate Wang Manyu 15-13, 9-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-5.

"I did my best today," said Chen. "I missed some opportunities and made some mistakes, but I could settle for it."

"Chen played great. The first game was crucial. I led 10-8 and had several game points but still let the game slip away, which had impact on the following games," commented Wang.

Wang Yidi overwhelmed South Korean teenager Shin Yu-bin 3-0, while Olympic champion Chen Meng edged Hina Hayata of Japan in full games.

After Hayata won the opening game 11-9, Chen saved three game points for a 14-12 victory to level it at one game apiece. Hayata went ahead again with an 11-9 win in the third game, but a resilient Chen took the next two games 11-6, 13-11 to advance.

"It was a difficult game," admitted Chen. "I was in an inferior position at the start, but I kept coming up with ideas of how to turn the game around. I made full preparation for the difficulties ahead of this match. Overcoming adversities to win was huge recognition for myself."

In Friday's semifinals, Sun will take on Chen Meng, while Wang faces Chen Xingtong.

The men's singles quarterfinals saw two matches played between Chinese paddlers, where world No. 1 Fan Zhendong squeezed past Lin Shidong 3-2, while Liang Jingkun outlasted Wang Chuqin in straight games.

After Fan registered an 11-9 victory in the first game, 17-year-old Lin moved ahead 11-6, 11-8 in the next two games, but Fan held his nerve to come through 13-11, 11-8.

"I had prepared for a tough game as Lin has been enjoying fine form. I didn't respond quite well to his challenge midway through the game, but I fought point by point and grasped the opportunities," explained Fan.

After Liang won the first game 11-6, the two players traded leads in the second before Liang moved one step away from advancing 11-9. Wang could not hold an in-form Liang throughout the match. Despite saving three match points, Wang fell 11-9 in the third game to crash out of the tournament.

Liang admitted he had never expected to win in straight games. "Possibly it was because I executed the tactics better and played more resolutely in terms of crucial points, and I got a bit of luck," he noted.

The other two semifinalists are Lim Jong-hoon of South Korea and Lin Yun-ju of Chinese Taipei.

Lim will next square off against Fan, while Lin will contend for the other final spot with Liang.