 |
|
China's Ma Long reacts during the
awarding ceremony for the final of men's singles at the 22nd Asian Cup
table tennis tournament in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang
Province, May 21, 2009. Ma Long won the title after beating his compatriot
Wang Hao 4-3. (Xinhua/Xu Yu) Photo Gallery>>> |
HANGZHOU, East China, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese
sensation Ma Long nailed down newly crowned world champion Wang Hao to lift the
trophy of the men's singles here Thursday as China pocketed all the medals on
offer at the Asian Cup table tennis tournament.
The 20-year-old Ma, whose world ranking raised to the
second after losing only to Wang Hao and leaving Yokohama with a bronze medal,
pulled himself together after losing the opening set in the world championship
semifinal rematch and managed a further comeback from 2-3 down to win the final
in full sets.
 |
|
China's Wang Hao reacts during the
awarding ceremony for the final of men's singles at the 22nd Asian Cup
table tennis tournament in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang
Province, May 21, 2009. (Xinhua/Xu Yu) Photo Gallery>>> |
It took Ma Long a few more than an hour to beat the
25-year-old Wang Hao, who had won for nine times out of fourteen meetings
against Ma before Thursday night's Asian Cup final, 8-11, 11-8, 11-7, 9-11,
8-11, 11-9, 11-7.
Ma's title is the 37th won by a Chinese as the
continental event, initiated by the Asian Table Tennis Union in 1983, have
produced all together 44 gold medals of both men's and women's singles in 22
editions.
 |
|
China's Wang Hao acts against his
compatriot Ma Long during the final of men's singles at the 22nd Asian Cup
table tennis tournament in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang
Province, May 21, 2009.(Xinhua/Xu Yu) Photo Gallery>>> |
On the women's part, the Yokohama worlds' runner-up
Guo Yue defended her Asian Cup title after wrapping up a straight-set victory
over compatriot Liu Shiwen, born in 1990s, winning 11-4, 11-9, 11-4, 11-4.
Earlier on Thursday, another Chinese teenager Ding
Ning, who won a silver of the women's doubles at the Yokohama worlds, beat Hong
Kong veteran Tie Yana 11-6, 11-7, 11-7, 11-7 for a bronze, while China's
national title holder Zhang Jike eased past Japan's doubles specialist Seiya
Kishikawa 11-5, 9-11, 11-4, 11-6, 16-14 to finish on the men's podium.
The 60,000 U.S. dollars Asian Cup attracted 16 men's
and as many women's players from nine Asian teams, namingly China, Japan, South
Korea, Hong Kong of China, Chinese Taipei, Singapore, India, Thailand and
Iran.
 |
|
China's Ma Long acts against his
compatriot Wang Hao during the final of men's singles at the 22nd Asian
Cup table tennis tournament in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang
Province, May 21, 2009. (Xinhua/Xu Yu) Photo Gallery>>> |