Ding Ning completes hat trick of women's singles title at table tennis worlds

Source: Xinhua| 2017-06-04 21:10:07|Editor: ying

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Ding Ning of China celebrates victory after the women's singles final match against her compatriot Zhu Yuling at the 2017 World Table Tennis Championships in Dusseldorf, Germany, June 4, 2017. (Xinhua/Tao Xiyi)

DUSSELDORF, Germany, June 4 (Xinhua) -- World No. 1 Ding Ning beat fellow Chinese and third seed Zhu Yuling 4-2 to win her third women's singles title at the World Table Tennis Championships here on Sunday.

Ding, also the Olympic champion in Rio, won the first game 11-4 but Zhu, playing her first final in the world championships, pulled two back 11-9, 11-4 for a 2-1 lead.

The two players then displayed a beautiful attacking game. Ding, who won the world title in 2011 and 2015, saved a game point from 9-10, winning three points in a row to make it 2-2.

Zhu, whose only winning record against Ding came in the 2015 China Open final, made too many errors while the 27-year-old Ding played steadily and accurately, leading all the way to win 11-6. She went on to take the next game 11-7 to seal the title.

"It is very special to win the world title for a third time," she said. "It is a teamwork of the Chinese national team."

Ding will also play the doubles semifinal with teammate Liu Shiwen.

"I hope to play well in the women's doubles tomorrow, and then I will relax and enjoy the break," she said when asked about her future.

Ding became the third Chinese woman player to win a hat trick of world singles title following Deng Yaping and Wang Nan.

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KEY WORDS: Table Tennis
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