World number one Wang Liqin and his female counterpart Zhang
Yining have both bowed out unexpectedly at the ITTF Pro Tour Kuwait
Open.
Wang Liqin and Zhang Yining, world number one paddlers in the
men's and women's rankings, have become the surprising casualties
at the ITTF Pro Tour Kuwait Open.
Wang Liqin, the reigning world champion lost to Chen Weixing of
Austria after a gruelling seven-set fight which saw the two players
exchanging the lead constantly.?
In the seventh and final games Wang Liqin led when the players
changed ends at 5-3 but then Chen Weixing levelled and the reigning
World champion never again gained the advantage.
In typical style, Chen Weixing defended, returning ball after
ball with backspin, then when the chance arose he exploded his
powerful forehand topspin, combining the two skills with the utmost
efficiency.
Chen will now face another Chinese Chen Qi in the semi-finals
while Ma Lin, one of China's top guns, will take on Li Jing of
Chinese Hong Kong in another semi-final rubber.
Earlier, Zhang Yining, the reigning women's world and Olympic
champion, fell unexpectedly during a quarter-final match against
former teammate Jiang Huajun who now represents Chinese Hong
Kong.
Jiang will meet China's Guo Yan in the semi-finals, while
China's Guo Yue will take on Japan's Sayaka Hirano.
(CRI English?February 24, 2006)
