Sydney 2000

Kchung Ling-chuej obdivoval Waldnera, ale v Sydney mu vzal zlato
SYDNEY 25. září (ČTK) - Čínský stolní tenista Kchung Ling- chuej před osmi lety hltal v televizi každou technickou finesu či tvrdý protiúder Švéda Jan-Oweho Waldnera a tleskal jeho vítězství na olympijských hrách v Barceloně. V Atlantě už získal zlatou medaili ve čtyřhře a dnes v Sydney dosáhl vrcholu - olympijskou dvouhru vyhrál po triumfu nad kdysi obdivovaným idolem.
  "Před osmi lety jsem jako dítě seděl u televizní obrazovky a slevoval, jak Waldner získal zlato. Tenkrát jsem ho uctíval, hrál nádherně: Chtěl jsem se mu vyrovnat," řekl Kchung Ling-chuej po pětisetové výhře ve finále. "A dnes jsem to dokázal."
   Čína na olympijských hrách v Austrálii ovládla stupně vítězů, asijská velmoc získala zlato v obou dvouhrách i čtyřhrách. Pouze v mužském singlu proti sobě nestáli čínští zástupci, jejich hegemonii narušil zkušený Waldner.
   "Za vším stojí náš důkladný tréninkový systém, který produkuje mnoho skvělých hráčů. Přesto není jednoduché vyhrávat, i když to tak může vypadat," vysvětloval Kchung Ling-chuej.

Sydney, Sept 25 (Sportalasia): Top seed Kong Linghui clinched the Olympic men's singles gold medal after defeating Swedish veteran Jan-Ove Waldner in a gripping five set match in front of a capacity crowd at the State Sports Centre table tennis venue tonight.

It was a match worthy of any top level final and saw two of the sport's top players, one a living legend from Europe and the other an Asian star who still has many great years ahead of him, taken on each other in front of a capacity crowd.

Both players obviously held enormous respect for each other and this was evident in the first two games that saw incredible long rallies, reflexive defensive play and killer finishes that had the crowd entertained from start to finish.

The wily veteran Waldner, despite losing the first two games, dug deep into his reserves to put Kong Linghui on the backfoot in the third game, despite trailing several times, the Swede managed to catch up and eventually with the game.

With renewed confidence, Waldner resorted to an attacking game in the fourth and surprised the Chinese ace, winning 21-14. The win had the Swedish section of the crowd, which for the second straight night included Sweden's King Gustav and Queen Silvia, up on its feet.

It all boiled down to the last game which began rather surprisingly with Kong Linghui holding an eight point lead at the start until Waldner began to catch up.

However, it was to big a lead for even Waldner to bridge. Waldner defeated Liu Guoliang in the semifinal despite being two games down but against the higher ranked Kong Linghui, was not able to pull off another great escape.

Waldner said he thought he had control of the match after the fourth game but got a bad start in the fifth.

"It was my second best Olympic games and I am disappointed but am happy for the silver medal," said the veteran who won the gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona games.

On his future, Waldner said he will continue to play until the World Championships in Osaka next April and decide his future after that.

In the earlier bronze medal match, China's Liu Guoliang defeated Sweden's Jorgen Persson to clinch the third spot.

Sydney, Sept 24 (Sportalasia): Swedish veteran Jan-Ove Waldner turned the tables on Chinese service ace Liu Guoliang in the men's singles semifinals at the State Sports Centre here today to book his place in the final against top seeded Kong Linghui.
Waldner's performance was undoubtedly a show fit for a King and how appropriate it was that the match was watched by Sweden's Royal couple, King Gustav and his wife Queen Silvia.
It will not be Waldner's first match in an Olympic final, he has been there before - in Barcelona. Then he defeated Jean-Philippe Gatien.
Waldner seemed invulnerable against Liu Guoliang today. The Chinese, throughout the tournament, has frightened his opponents with his wizard services. But in this semifinal, it was the opposite. Waldner broke down the confidence of Liu Guoliang with his excellent services.
When Waldner plays well, table tennis looks like an easy game, and in this match table tennis looked easier than ever.
"I really enjoyed this match. I felt really comfortable at the table, and I am much faster now, than I was 3 months ago. Beating Liu Guoliang 3-0 is great," said Waldner.
Playing the way he did today, Waldner has proven himself worthy of a second Olympic gold medal but there is still one obstacle on the way to the gold. Kong Linghui of China.
"If Kong plays like he did against Persson, it will be very tough - but in an Olympic tournament there are no easy matches."
Waldner's fellow Swede Persson thinks that the final could go either way. And he should know. He lost to Kong in the other semifinal, only being able to take one game away from the Chinese.
"Kong has improved his backhand, and the times when he was mentally weak at the decisive ball are over. I could not beat him today, but Jan-Ove played fantastic today, and he can do it. He is better on the services than I am, and that can make the difference."
Kong said it would have been better for him psychologically to play against Liu Guoliang in the final.
"If Liu had qualified it would have been better. If I lost the gold would still be in Chinese hands."

Sydney, Sept 23 (Sportalasia): World No. 1 singles player Wang Liqin wept after winning the men's doubles event with partner Yan Sen at the State Sports Centre here tonight, beating compatriots Kong Linghui and Liu Guoliang in a highly entertaining final.
Unlike the anti-climatic women's doubles final between Chinese pairs Wang Nan/Li Ju and Sun Jun/Yang Ying, the men's finals tonight had the audience at the edge of their seats right to the end when Liu Guoliang's overhit shot gave the other Chinese pair the winning point. The victory obviously meant a lot to Wang Liqin, was not entered in the men's singles event at by the Chinese Table Tennis Association because he was only ranked No. 4 among the Chinese players after the World Singles Championship in Eindhoven in August last year.
He also failed to qualify at the Asian Continental Qualification level where another Chinese player Liu Guozheng clinched the last available slot for the country.

In the bronze medal match played earlier, French pair Patrick Chila and Jean Philippe Gatien made up for disappointment in the singles event by outplaying Korean pair Lee Chul eung and Yoo Seung Min.
The Frenchmen did not give any quarter, conceding only one set to the Koreans before winning 3-1 in 55 minutes.
"It was important to win the first game against the Koreans because we know they play a risky style. We were always putting pressure on them except in the second game. We were confident and the third and fourth games were easy," said Gatien after the match.
"We knew the game was open and we had good opportunity to take the bronze medal. We wanted to finish as fast as possible but we couldn't. But maybe that was better because the Koreans got tired.

Sydney, Sept 23 (Sportalasia): If there is one person who must be on the podium for the men's singles event on Monday night, it has to be Swedish veteran Jan-Ove Waldner who showed the world why at the age of 34, he is still regarded one of the best players in table tennis. Down 2-0 against 2nd seed Vladimir Samsonov, any other player might have thrown in the towel but then again, Waldner, a living legend in his own right, is not just any player. He set himself to the task and frustrated the 24-year-old Belarussian with his determination and never say die attitude. The victory obviously meant a lot to the Swede, his first reaction when getting the match winning point was to crouch by the corner of the playing field, getting his emotions under control. Once that was accomplished, his celebrations was a joy to behold, pumping the air as the crowd, prompted by the exhortations of a small but vocal Swedish crowd, reacted with a standing ovation. "It was very difficult, I had a good start in the third game so I just wanted to win that game. I didn't expect to win the match though," said a jubilant Waldner who is looking to repeat his gold medal feat at the Olympic Games in Barcelona in 1992. On his semifinal match against Liu Guoliang of China, Waldner believes it will also be an open match. "I have lost five matches against Liu, but I have also beaten him before."

Liu Guoliang defeated Germany's Jorg Rosskopf easily in under 30 minutes. Winning in three straight games, 21-11,21-14,21-07.
Waldner's victory ensured that Sweden would get at least on medal from the men's singles event. Joergen Persson, the other Swedish player in the quarterfinals today defeated China's 10th seeded Liu Guozheng in another exciting semifinal match.

Persson lost the first game and was in trouble in the second.
"I made too many mistakes, so I decided to go a little bit more easy on my first strokes. And from that on I just got better and better," said Persson. After winning the second game Persson was controlling the match and Liu Guozheng started to make mistakes with his normally very strong forehand. "It helped me also psychologically. When you have a long rally and you are being forced to go backwards, and then win the point anyway, it means a lot," said the Swede. Persson had 4 match balls in the 4th game at 20-16. He missed the first three, but he stayed cool and took the game and the match 21-19.

Now he is faces China's Kong Linghui in the semifinals, but the prospect of going up against the top seed does not scare him.
"I trust my game, I can improve my service a little bit - and then I can beat anybody.
Kong Linghui had his problems with the Austrian Werner Schlager. Schlager was up 2-1, but in the last two games Kong controlled the match winning 21-10, 21-14.