Ma Lin of China celebrates in Men's Singles Gold Medal Match between Wang Hao and Ma Lin of China of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games table tennis event at PKU Gymnasium in Beijing, China, Aug. 23, 2008. Ma Lin defeated Wang Hao 4-1, and won the gold medal of the event. (Xinhua/Xu Yu) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- World No. 2 Ma Lin claimed the Olympic title, outgunning teammate Wang Hao 4-1 in an all-Chinese men's singles table tennis final on Saturday.

    Ma, 28, took the game 11-9, 11-9, 6-11, 11-7 and 11-9, becoming the third Chinese player to win Olympic men's singles gold, after Liu Guoliang in 1996 Atlanta Games and Kong Linghui in 2000 Sydney Games.

    It was also the 20th Olympic table tennis gold medal that China bagged since the event was introduced at the 1988 Seoul Games.

Ma Lin (C), Wang Hao (L) and Wang Liqin of China attend the awarding ceremony of Men's Singles of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games table tennis event at PKU Gymnasium in Beijing, China, Aug. 23, 2008. Ma Lin, Wang Hao and Wang Liqin won the gold, silver and bronze medal of the event respectively. (Xinhua/Xu Jiajun) Photo Gallery>>>

    The 2000, 2003, 2004, 2006 World Cup champion Ma, teamed up with 7th-ranked Chen Qi, won the men's doubles gold medal in Athens, a glory he replayed in Beijing.

    "I prepared well for the Games and made more changes in attacking," said Ma, who cried into a towel after the playoff. "I controlled the critical points well, which was key to my victory."

    Ma has never been winner of the single's event in world championships. In the final of the 2005 table tennis worlds, Ma was outperformed by Wang Liqin, who captured the gold medal in front of fervent home fans in Shanghai. In 2007, Ma was thumped again by Wang Liqin and missed his chance to claim the title in Zagreb.

    "The match is close. Unfortunately, I did not handle the ball well in critical moments," said Wang, who hold back Swedish veteran Jorgen Persson in the semifinal to ensure China's one-two-three finish on the podium.

    Wang Hao suffered a meltdown in the championship final against South Korean Ryu Seung Min in the men's singles four years ago. Ryu did not make it to the top 16 following a string of setbacks in Beijing tournament.

    "I made great improvement over the past four years. Despite the failure to capture the Olympic title, I will not give up my faith and will gear up for the next Olympics," said Wang, who won his first world title at last year's World Cup in Barcelona.

Wang Hao of China competes in Men's Singles Gold Medal Match against Ma Lin of China of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games table tennis event at PKU Gymnasium in Beijing, China, Aug. 23, 2008. (Xinhua/Xu Yu) Photo Gallery>>>

    Blanketing Swedish veteran Jorgen Persson 4-0, 4th-ranked Wang Liqin finished third, taking a clean sweep of the three medals in the men's singles competition.

    "I adjusted my mind after the loss in the morning and played the evening game well," said the 30-year-old.

    Wang Liqin failed to reach the final due to a defeat by Ma Lin 2-4, which shattered his dream to finish top on the Olympic podium.

    "When I won the singles bronze medal in Athens, I felt regret because the gold medal was took away by South Korean. Today, I am very proud that we Chinese have made to do with all three medals," Wang said.

    China's equally mighty women made a clean sweep of all singles medals the previous day.

    "It was a miracle when three Chinese national flags were raised at the same time this evening. The prefect ending was achieved through teamwork as well as the hard work of all people involved," Liu said. Both Chinese men and women have claimed team titles in the Olympic table tennis tournament.

    "The win was what I never expected, even in my dreams," Liu said.

The national flag of China is raised up on the awarding ceremony of Men's Singles of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games table tennis event at PKU Gymnasium in Beijing, China, Aug. 23, 2008. Ma Lin, Wang Hao and Wang Liqin of China won the gold, silver and bronze medal of the event respectively. (Xinhua/Bao Feifei) Photo Gallery>>>