DOHA: Liqin Wang and Yining Zhang yesterday did China proud by wining the men’s and women’ singles titles at the $205,000 Qatar Open.
In what was an absorbing contest from the word go at the Al Gharrafa Indoor Sports Hall, Wang needed only six sets to outlast compatriot Lin Ma in the men’s final.
Wang won 11-7, 11-8, 11-4, 9-11, 11-3, 11-9 to claim the top prize of $35,000 for his effort in the five-day table tennis extravaganza.
Earlier in the day, Wang beat another Chinese Hao Wang, 11-9, 13-11, 11-13, 11-2, 11-5 to win the first semi-final.
In the second semi-final, Ma, who lost at the final hurdle, did no such mistake in the last-four stage when he beat Petr Korbel of the Czech Republic, 7-11,11-4, 6-11, 9-11, 12-10, 3-11.
In the women’s singles final yesterday, world number one Zhang needed only five sets to register a famous Qatar Open win.
Giving her usual dose of heavy top spin to her rival and compatriot Xia Li Xiao. Zhang won 14-12, 14-12, 11-6, 6-11, 11-6 to become richer by $22,000.
In the semi-finals, Zhang ended up consuming six sets before overwhelming Niocle Struse of Germany. Zhang won 11-6, 8-11, 9-11, 11-9, 12-10.
In the other semi-final, Li Xiao defeated compatriot Yan Guo, 11-6, 12-14, 4-11, 13-11, 11-8, 4-11, 3-11.
Earlier in the day, An ankle injury to Timo Boll thwarted the hopes of Germany’s Timo Boll and Christian Süss in the men’s doubles final yesterday.
The German duo, hampered to some extent by the immobility of Boll, lost in five games to Wang Hao and Wang .
Hao and Wang won 7-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-9, 11-6.
Meanwhile yesterday, another dream was fulfilled - Wang Nan and Zhang are the reigning Olympic and world women’s doubles champions, but one title that has proved elusive is the women’s doubles title at the Qatar Open.
However, yesterday they put that matters right but only just, they secured the crown beating Hong Kong’s Tie Yana and Zhang Rui 11-3, 9-11, 11-6, 11-13, 11-6, 9-11, 12-10.
Nan and Zhang won in Shanghai in 2005 and yesterday, they won in Qatar
It was a tough encounter and the victors almost let a golden opportunity slip from their grasp; in the seventh game they led 10-8, two match points, but Tie Yana and Zhang Rui levelled before the final two points went the way of the Chinese pairing to end proceedings.
The tournament, in which 41 countries took part, was hosted by the Qatar Table Tennis Association (QTTA) for the 10th consecutive year.
- Barbara and Torsten MAYSENHÖLDER automobilsport.com Doha -
