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Updated: 2004-12-13 09:05
Chinese paddlers dominate again

国际乒联职业巡回赛总决赛周日在北京落幕,中国队在本次比赛中表现出色,包揽了全部四个单项的冠亚军,其中女单决赛中16岁小将郭跃以4-2战胜了卫冕冠军牛剑锋,成为大奖赛总决赛最年轻的冠军。

 

Guo Yue in semi-final at ITTF Pro Tour Grand on December 12, 2004.(Xinhua)

China underlined their dominance of table tennis by sweeping all four titles at the ITTF Pro Tour Grand Finals on Sunday.

But what counts more this time is all four titles were decided in four all-Chinese finals at the sell-out Beijing University Stadium Sunday night.

Wang Liqin was the winner in men's singles as runner-up Ma Lin paired with Chen Qi to taste victory in the men's doubles. Teenager Guo Yue was crowned the women's single while the doubles title belonged to Wang Nan and Zhang Yining.

World No 3 Wang Liqin started quickly and grasped the first three games without any trouble. Ma then rallied to take one game back but failed to deal with Wang's successive attacking and high speed before losing to Wang with a crushing 4-1.

"I played very well today," said Wang at a post-match news conference. "I just started my systematic training two weeks ago, and I am so happy to see myself playing at such good form."

Liu Guoliang, the head coach of the men's team, was full of praise for his players. "Their performance reflected our training level here at the tournament. Wang shows he is now at an ideal condition. Ma has also contributed a lot as he marched into the final alone from the second half part of the draw," said a satisfied Liu.

In a semi-final three hours before the final, Ma knocked out the only non-Chinese semi-finalist Timo Boll of Germany as he edged past the sizzling Boll in a seven-game thriller.

Ma had to play three matches a day but he finished with a title - in the men's doubles, Ma and teammate Chen Qi, the Athens Olympic champions as well as the defending champions, were crowned again as they outclassed compatriots Kong Linghui and Wang Hao with another thrilling 4-3.

Teenage sensation Guo emerged as the champion of women's singles, dethroning her struggling teammate Niu Jianfeng 4-2. "I am so glad. The victory will be a boost for my confidence and I am sure I will be doing better and better," Guo said.

In-form Guo showed impressive performances at this event as she beat world No 8 Li Jia Wei of Singapore and then world No 10 Lau Sui Fei of Hong Kong before a surprising win against world and Olympic champion Wang Nan in the semi-final earlier on Sunday.

But the former world No 1 player got some comfort from the doubles as she paired with Athens Olympic champion Zhang Yining to beat Guo and Niu 4-1 to win the title in a repeat of the Athens Olympic semi-final.

(China Daily)

Vocabulary:
 

systematic training: (系统性训练)

sizzle: to be very hot(非常热)







 
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