China secures women’s singles title at WTT Champions Xinxiang

BEIJING – Deciding the winner of the Xinxiang women’s singles event at the World Table Tennis Championships (WTT) in Xinxiang will be all-Chinese as Chinese paddlers took all the semi-final spots on Thursday.

In her first meeting with Japan’s Mima Ito since the Tokyo Olympics, world number one Sun Yingsha regrouped from an 11-6 deficit in the first to win 11-6, 11-9, 11-7 to secure her place in the series. women’s final four.

“After playing against Ito for more than a year, I enjoy the process. We are equals and there is always good competition between us. I can test my training and find room for improvement every time I compete with him,” commented Sun. .

Chen Xingtong went all the way in beating his teammate Wang Manyu 15-13, 9-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-5.

“I did my best today,” Chen said. – I missed some opportunities and made mistakes, but I was able to settle for that.

“Chen played brilliantly. The first game was decisive. I led 10-8 and got several game points, but I still let the game slip, which affected the following games,” commented Wang.

Wang Yidi defeated South Korean teenager Shin Yu-bin 3-0, while Olympic champion Chen Meng defeated Japan’s Hina Hayata in a complete game.

After Hayata won the opening game 11-9, Chen saved three game points to win 14-12 and tie it at one game. Hayata went ahead again, winning 11-9 in the third game, but a resilient Chen took the next two games 11-6, 13-11.

“It was a tough game,” Chen admitted. “I was at a disadvantage at the beginning, but I kept coming up with ideas to turn the game around. I was fully prepared for the difficulties of this match. Overcoming adversity was a great recognition for me.”

In Friday’s semifinals, Sun will face Chen Meng, while Wang will face Chen Xingtong.

The men’s singles quarterfinals featured two matches between Chinese paddlers, with world number one Fan Zhendong beating Lin Shidong 3-2, while Liang Jingkun beat Wang Chuqin in straight games.

After Fan recorded an 11-9 victory in the first game, the 17-year-old Lin went 11-6, 11-8 in the next two games, but Fan held his nerve to survive 13-11, 11-8.

“I was prepared for a tough game because Lin has been enjoying good form. I didn’t answer his challenge very well in the middle of the game, but I fought from point to point and took the opportunities,” Fan explained.

After Liang won the first game 11-6, the two players traded leads in the second before Liang moved one step away from going ahead 11-9. Wang was unable to contain the in-form Liang throughout the match. Although Wang saved three match points, he fell 11-9 in the third game and was eliminated from the tournament.

Liang admitted that he never expected to win in straight games. “Maybe it was because I executed the tactics better and played more decisively for the important points and I had a bit of luck,” he stated.

The other two semi-finalists are Lim Jong-hoon from South Korea and Lin Yun-ju from Chinese Taipei.

Lim will face Fan next, while Lin will battle for the other final spot with Liang.