China

Chinese Pingpong disappoint stars

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-09-13 15:51

The Chinese team, comprising world top table tennis players Wang Liqin, Ma Lin and Chen Qi, defeated the challenging World All Stars Table Tennis Team at a tournament held in Kuala Lumpur, Capital of Malaysia Tuesday night, local newspaper reported.

The Chinese team, comprising world top table tennis players Wang Liqin, Ma Lin(left, front) and Chen Qi, defeated the challenging World All Stars Table Tennis Team at a tournament held in Kuala Lumpur, Capital of Malaysia September 12, 2006. [chinanews.cn]

The tournament saw the debut of the format of the Olympics team system, under which three players will compete in two singles matches, one doubles and another two singles (2-1-2). The format will be used in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

World sixth seed Chen Qi and number one Wang Liqin outplayed second seed Timo Boll of Germany and seventh seed Oh Sang Eun of South Korea 3-2, 3-2 respectively at the first and second singles match.

In the doubles match, Chinese pair Wang and the third seed Ma Lin upset Boll-Samsonov duo in straight sets 11-5, 11-9 and 12-10.

The world's fifth seed Vladimir Samsonov (Belarus) managed to win the third singles match against Chen Qi, after losing the first set 7-11. Ma Lin took the final singles match with a score 3-2 after struggling with Sang Eun, delivering the total score 4-1.