Chinese paddlers have dominated the world table tennis championships in Yokohama, with top seeds all cruising to the next round. In the men's singles, Olympic champion Ma Lin took a 3-1 lead in his match against local player Kenta Matsudaira.
![China's Cao Zhen and Li Ping (L) hold their trophy and gold medals during the awarding ceremony for the mixed doubles at the World Table Tennis Championships in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, May 3, 2009. [Toru Hanai/CCTV/REUTERS]](http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1007/20090504/001ec94a1ee40b6895f840.jpg "China's Cao Zhen and Li Ping (L) hold their trophy and gold medals during the awarding ceremony for the mixed doubles at the World Table Tennis Championships in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, May 3, 2009. [Toru Hanai/CCTV/REUTERS]") |
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China's Cao Zhen and Li Ping (L) hold their trophy and gold medals during the awarding ceremony for the mixed doubles at the World Table Tennis Championships in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, May 3, 2009. [Toru Hanai/CCTV/REUTERS] |
But the Japanese fought back to take the next two games for a 3-all tie. The Chinese top seed held his nerve in the decider, winning it 11-9 for a place in the last 8. Wan Liqin didn't meet much resistance from Hong Kong's Tang Peng. He snatched the match 4-2 for a last eight spot.
In the women's singles draw, two time Olympic champion Zhang Yining blew out Krisztina Toth of Hungary in four straight games to advance to the quarterfinals. Her teammate Guo Yue had to withstand strong challenges from Hong Kong's Jiang Huajun. Guo finally triumphed with a 4-3 narrow win.
In the men's doubles, Ma Long and Xu Xin faced Marcos Freitas and Andre Silva of Portugal. It proved a one-sided match as the Chinese duo walked away with a 4-1 victory. And in the women's doubles, young gunners Cao Zhen and Liu Shiwen also clinched a memorable win over Dang Ye Seo and Lee Eun Hee of South Korea 4-1.
Finally, China's Hao Shuai and Chang Chenchen beat Hong Kong pair Ko Lai Chak and Tie Yana to set up an all-Chinese final in the mixed doubles with Zhang Jike and Mu Zi, who had earlier beaten Germany's Christian Suss and Elke Schall.
(CCTV May 4, 2009)
