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One match decides two different fates

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-05-14 09:04
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BEIJING - Wang Liqin has won three singles gold medals at the World Table Tennis Championships but that was not enough to secure him a berth on the five-man Chinese squad for this month's Worlds' team event.

The 31-year-old, whose three singles titles at the Worlds are the most among active male players, was beaten by fellow veteran Ma Lin, 3-1, on Tuesday in the team's last tryout and that cost him a ticket on the flight to Moscow, where the Worlds serve off on May 23.

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The veterans first teamed up on the world stage in 1999 at the Kuala Lumpur World Championships, where China lost to Sweden 3-2 in the finals. They have led the national squad to all the major team titles since, including four at the Worlds and one at the Beijing Olympic Games.

They have also been long-time rivals in singles events. Wang defended his title by defeating Ma in the finals at the 2007 Worlds but was eliminated by eventual champion Ma in the semifinals at the Beijing Games.

"We've played against each other in all kinds of matches over the past decade. No matter what the media calls us - rivals or even enemies, it only refers to our on-court relationship because there is only one winner," said Ma, 30, who will make a team-record sixth consecutive journey to the World Championships (team event).

"But we are very good friends off court, especially as we grow older. There is no way we could have become such good players without each other, without such high-level competition over such a long time."

Ma is the most senior member of the team heading for Moscow. The rest of the squad comprises 20-year-old Xu Xin, 21-year-old Ma Long, 22-year-old Zhang Jike and 26-year-old Wang Hao.

Meanwhile, Wang still aims to fight on for the 2012 London Games despite missing the Moscow Worlds.

"I was mentally prepared to accept the result. Of course I feel very disappointed now but I still see myself improving," said Wang, "Moscow was not my ultimate goal. I have my sights set on the London Olympics. I just need to make more adjustments in order to compete against the younger generation."