Ding makes up for London loss

All-China rematch with teammate Li marks a milestone in Games history

China's Ding Ning stretches for a return against compatriot Li Xiaoxia in Wednesday's singles gold medal match. Ding reversed the result of the London Games final. Wei Xiaohao / China Daily

In another all-Chinese showdown, Ding Ning finally got her gold medal.

Ding beat teammate Li Xiaoxia in the women's table tennis final on Wednesday, reversing the result from four years ago.

When Ding lost to Li in the final at the 2012 London Games, she broke down in tears. There were more tears on Wednesday when she fell to her knees in celebration.

"I'm so excited, I can't believe I did it. I don't know how to explain my feeling - I feel that I became a lot more mature than four years ago," said Ding.

" This was a very tough match. I think Li and I both did well, but in the final set I played much tougher than my opponent. I am really proud of myself."

It was the first time since table tennis was introduced to the 1988 Games in Seoul that the same two players entered a singles final in consecutive Olympics.

The tense match, which came down to a deciding seventh game, was full of long rallies, lighting-quick smashes, looping topspin forehands and stretching defensive saves - all signs that the two players have spent many hours playing together over the years.

After nearly every point, the winner raised her fist, let out a sharp yell and stalked away from the table.

Ding, a lefthander, relied on a crouching, tomahawk-style serve. Li often fanned herself with her bat while she waited.

The rivals went back and forth over the first three games, the medal podium standing in shadows next to the spotlighted table.

Ding, the reigning world champion, took the first game. Li bounced back in the second before Ding won the third.

Li then pulled away, winning the next two games to put herself on the brink of another Olympic gold. But Ding played herself back into it by winning the sixth.

In the decider, Ding made fewer errors than Li, who several times missed the table with her forehand.

The final reflected China's continued domination of the sport. World No 1 Liu Shiwen watched the match from the sidelines after failing to be picked for the singles event.

Chinese women have won every singles gold medal in table tennis since 1988.

Before the Rio Games, China had won all but four of the table tennis gold medals at the Olympics.

The country took all the golds at the past two Games, and has made a good start to doing it again in Rio.

Each nation is only allowed two players in singles.

Earlier on Wednesday, Kim Song-i of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea won bronze by beating veteran Ai Fukuhara of Japan amid loud cheers from her country's delegation in the crowd.

Kim's victory capped a surprising run through the tournament. The "chopper", or defensive specialist, repeatedly took down higher-ranked opponents.

Kim hugged her coach and cried into her towel after winning before running off when reporters tried to approach her for questions.

She lost to Ding on Wednesday morning before a small but loud crowd of her supporters, which included Choe Ryong-hae, a close aide to DPRK leader Kim Jong-un.

In the men's competition, Zhang Jike, the champion in London whose name was inspired by Brazilian soccer great Zico, will face Vladimir Samsonov of Belarus in the semifinals. Top-ranked Ma Long of China will play Jun Mizutani of Japan.