China's Wang Liqin returns the ball during a third-round match of Group A against Denmark's Michael Maze at the 48th World Team Table Tennis Championships in Bremen, north Germany, April 26, 2006. China beat Denmark 3-0. (Xinhua photo)

BREMEN, Germany, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese veteran Wang Liqin said that he was quite satisfied with his performance over Danish top player Michael Maze on Wednesday despite first game loss at the 48th World Team Table Tennis Championships.

    Asked to comment on his fight against left-handed Maze, Wang said, "quite well".

    "Maze is a strong player, whose technical level is almost as good as Wang Hao and Hao Shuai, " Wang said.

    "Beating him is conducive to stabilize and boost morale of the Chinese team," Wang said, adding he had good preparations mentally and technically before fighting Maze, the biggest challenger to Chinese players, the defending champions who won the team title two years ago in Qatar.

    Wang Liqin, holder of world and Olympic titles, won 3-1 over Maze, the world's No. 19, losing the second game 11-8 in the third round of group matches.

    It was the first time Wang lost a game at the week-long championships.

    "I met some problems during the course, but after readjusting in time, I think I exerted quite well," he told Chinses reporters after China beat Denmark 3-0 in the third round of group matches.

    Wang made a successful comeback to overpower Maze in the third and fourth games 11-3, 11-6.

    He won easily over his Romanian rival and Dutch rival on Monday and Tuesday.

    Chinese men's coach Liu Guoliang also praised Wang Liqin.

    Liu had told reporters Tuesday that if China could beat Maze, the power of the Danish team would be greatly reduced.

    Ma Lin and Chen Qi beat their Danish rivals 3-0.

    On Thursday, China will face Sweden, another strong challenger to the Chinese in Group A.

    Liu said he will roll out the strongest line-up to play the Swedes as formidable Jan-Ove Waldner was one of them.

    This is the 15th time for the 40-year-old Waldner to take part in the world event.

    The Swedish maestro has shown his class as he uncorks a performance of rare vintage in playing against Italy, Denmark and Romania in the first three rounds of group contests. Enditem