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6.5. Sportalasia News
WANG LIQIN IS WORLD CHAMPION
Wang Liqin showed why he is ranked no 1 in the world by coming back from two games down to defeat second ranked Kong Linghui 3-2 in the men's singles final at the 46th World Table Tennis Championships. Wang Liqin was surprisingly meek in the first two sets and was hardly displaying any qualities of a world champion, conceding the games 11-21, 11-21 in about 20 minutes. But if the disappointed fans at the Osaka Central Municipal Gymnasium thought the lanky player was just going to let the Olympic champion clinch another title, they were proven thankfully wrong in the three remaining games. Perhaps the memory of losing out on a place in the Olympics singles event, which was won by Kong Linghui, jolted Wang Liqin because he returned in the next game determined to win. Wang Liqin tore into his opponent with determination in the third game and won 21-16. He showed no mercy in the second and third games and although Kong Linghui tried to put up a fight, the 23-year-old won easily 11/21, 11/21, 21/16, 21/13, 21/13. The win completed the individual event schedule and signalled the end of the world championships where all seven titles, two in the team and five in the individual events were won by China.
WANG NAN AND LI JU TRIUMPH IN WOMEN'S DOUBLES
China's Sun Jin and Yang Ying failed in their bid to stop Wang Nan and Li Ju from winning another major women's doubles title at the Osaka Central Minicipal Gymnasium today. It was a repeat of the Sydney Olympic final when Wang Nan and Li Ju won in three straight games and hardly broke a sweat. The result is hardly surprising as both Wang Nan and Li Ju are currently ranked no 1 and 2 respectively in the world rankings and the disparity showed in the ease with which the defending champions disposed of their fellow Chinese pair. Sun Jin/Yang Ying looked capable of troubling their opponents in the first and second game, but the fancied pair were always ahead and won 21-16, 21-14, 21-14. "We felt maybe we were in with a chance in the first and second games when the scores were close but they always opened up a big lead whenever we got close so it was always difficult to catch up," Sun Jin said later. Li Ju said the match was "normal" as both pairs knew each other inside out. "We have played each other so many times and know each other so well, so there was really nothing to it. We studied their game throughout the tournament and knew exactly what to do to beat them," she said. On what their next targets are after winning yet another major title, Wang Nan said she will focus on the Chinese national championships which are due to begin soon. "Of course Li Ju and myself will not be playing together because we are not from the same district. After that we will prepare for the Asian Games next year."
WORLD CHAMPION IN TEARS AFTER WIN
World Champion Wang Liqin broke down and cried after defeating Kong Linghui in the men's singles event at the 46th World Table Tennis Championships to win a title he described as his life long dream. "I couldn't help myself after winning. I have been dreaming about winning this title for so many years and to finally do it was beyond belief," he said. Wang Liqin admitted that he was very nervous before the match as it was a very big moment for himself as a player. "When I lost the first two games, I realised that my tactics were not working. So I just told myself to play the the best of my ability," he said. Kong Linghui said he was happy with his performance in the first two games but admitted his mind wandered when leading 3-0 in the third game. "Playing against Wang Liqin that was a mistake and although the third and fourth sets were close, he was too much on a roll for me to catch up. I did not take my opportunity and that was my downfall," he said. Asked if the increasing number of young players coming into the Chinese team would threaten his own position, Kong said:"Although it is good to see so many young players coming up, I believe I will be around for a few more years."
CHINA REIGNS SUPREME
Japan's Mayu Kawagoe and Akiko Takeda were the last non-China players to bow out of the 46th World Table Tennis Championships after losing to Yang Ying and Sun Jin in the second women's doubles semifinal to be played today. The Chinese pair won 21-15, 21-12, 21-12 in just under 45 minutes. The winning pair will play fellow Chinese and title favourites Wang Nan and Li Ju, the world 1st and 2nd ranked female players, in the final to be played later today. Wang Nan/Li Ju defeated Zhang Yining and Zhang Yingying 21/17, 21/17, 21/15. The result was a foregone conclusion with Kawagoe admitting in the press conference later that the Japanese pair had been concentrating on how to receive shots and services from their opponents over the last three days. "We know they are very good so we had to prepare the best we could to give them a fight so that our fans would not be disappointed," she said. Kawagoe admitted that all the preparation came to nought and said her partner and herself just could not keep up with the Chinese. "Of course we are disappointed that we couldn't go any further but the Chinese are very strong and we are just happy to have made it this far in our very first world championships," she said.
5.5. Sportalasia News
WANG NAN IS CHAMPION
China's Wang Nan refused to be drawn into comparison with her predecessor Deng Yaping despite winning another major title less than a year after her double gold medal achievement at the Sydney Olympics. "I think the fans who love table tennis in China will know who I am and those who don't might not," she said when asked about her opinion on Deng Yaping's popularity compared to hers. Wang Nan, the current world no 1, defeated her fellow Chinese player Lin Ling in the final match of the women's singles event at the 46th World Table Tennis Championships. She added that she has not set lofty targets for herself in table tennis and would just like to keep on playing. Wang Nan added that she was not pleased with her own performance in the early stages of the tournament and will start working on improving herself when she gets home. Lin, who overcame Korea DPR's giant killer Kim Yun Mi in the semifinal earlier, said she tried her best but after playing against non-Chinese players to get into the final, she was mentally and physically tired. "I think we both played our normal game. But I could not go the extra mile that I needed to beat Wang Nan," she said. Wang Nan herself praised her opponent and said Lin Ling had fought hard to get to the final match. "She had a very tough draw especially in the semifinal against the north Korean, but she has proven herself by making it to the final. I think she is an outstanding player." In the match today, Lin won the first game, beating Wang Nan 21-14 but the Olympic champion showed in the next three games why she was the world no 1. Her left handed handshake attacks that swerved away from Lin Ling were deadly and despite having intimate knowledge of her opponent, there was nothing the world no 14 could do but concede point after point. Wang Nan won the match 14-21, 21-12, 12,12, 21-19.
END OF FAIRY TALE RUN FOR KIM YUN MI
All fairy tales come to an end but for Korea DPR's Kim Yun Mi, it was a sad and disappointing end to a dream when she lost to China's Lin Ling in the women's singles semifinal at the 46th World Table Tennis Championships in Osaka today. Kim lost 14-21, 21-14, 18-21, 11/21 and will have to settle for a bronze medal instead of the god or silver she had set her sights on. She started badly against the world no 14 and was always playing catch up. Lin Ling, acutely aware of her opponent's giant-killing feats enroute to the semifinal was not about to concede easy points. The Chinese player was always cautious and her prudence paid off when the impatient 19-year-old at the opposite end started rushing her shots to win points but conceded them instead. Kim was more composed in the second and led most of the time, leading 18-12 and allowing Lin Ling only two points before the north Korean won the game. However, instead of being put at ease after levelling the score, Kim was again a bundle of nerves, enabling the calmer Lin Ling to clinch vital points and the evntual victory. It was more of the same in the last game and at 14-7 in favour of the Chinese, Kim was just hitting desperate shots and losing point by point. "I am happy with the victory. I was a little nervous at first but once I got used to her playing style it was easy to counter," Lin Ling said. She was ecstatic at reaching the final and said she would do her best despite facing her fellow Chinese Wang Nan in the final later today. Wang Nan defeated Zhang Yingying 21/19, 21/11, 17/21, 21/13 in the other semifinal. Korea DPR coach Lee Hyung Il was naturally not too pleased with his player's lack of composure and said she should have remained calm instead of panicking.
KIM'S CHALLENGE TO WANG NAN
Korea DPR's Kim Yun Mi, ranked 59th in the world and only rated fifth in her own country, has virtually issued a challenge to the current Queen of Table Tennis Wang Nan.
The 19-year-old Kim is one of the most elusive of the participants at the 46th World Table Tennis Championships in Osaka when it comes to meeting journalists but today, when her team officials were convinced to relax their protective grip, her passion and conviction was a joy to behold. Like she is on the court, the shy and soft spoken teenager is supremely confident when speaking about her own ability and her chances in the next rounds of the women's singles event. Having just sent world no 9 Mihaela Steff out of the event in the quarterfinals today, the Pyongyang Sports University student is already looking forward to an inevitable meeting with Wang Nan in the finals, even though she still has to defeat China's Lin Ling in the semifinals. "I am very confident that I can beat anybody. Although I've never played against Wang Nan...I don't think her level of table tennis is that good," said the young player who hopes to emulate her idols Pak Yung Su and Lim Bun Hui. Pak won the world championships singles event twice in 1975 and 1977 while Lim was runner-up in 1989 and 1991. The latter as part of a unified Korea team. The daughter of a university Professor might sound slightly overconfident, but ask any of her shell shocked opponents so far in the tournament and you will understand why.
Romania's 9th seeded Mihaela Steff was at a loss for words to describe her opponent. "I was not prepared for her. I watched the videos but this is the first time I played against her and I never expected her to be that good," she said, adding that the longer the match wore on, the better the north Korean was playing against her. "I was never in control of the game against her. She has got a different way of playing that is very difficult to get used to," Steff said. The Romanian believes her opponent's world ranking does not reflect her true ability and said Kim should play more tournaments outside Korea DPR. Kim, only 1.57m tall, has only played in a handful of events since her trip to the World Team Championships in Kuala Lumpur last year. She has played in two ITTF Protour events this year, at the English Open and the Qatar Open. At the English Open, Kim topped the Youth Draw, beating Japan's Ai Fujinuma in the final but was knocked out in the round of 16 in the main event by fellow north Korean Kim Hyang Mi. At the Qatar Open, Kim again faltered at the round of 16, losing to Korea Republic's Kim Moo Kyo. She was not played in the team events at this current world championships and that could be one of the reasons why she has taken all her opponents by surprise, including world no 2 Li Ju and world no 18 Krisztina Toth. Kim who meets China's world no 14 Lin Ling in the semifinals tomorrow is no longer considered an outsider and deserves be treated with respect...even by Wang Nan.

WANG LIQIN AND YAN SEN COMPLETE TITLE HATTRICK
Wang Liqin and Yan Sen completed a hattrick of titles in less than a year after bagging the 46th World Table Tennis Championships men's doubles event at the Osaka Central Municipal Gymnasium here today. The pair bagged the Olympic doubles gold in Sydney last year and in January clinched the ITTF Protour Grand Final men's doubles crown. In the final today, they defeated Kong Linghui and Liu Guoliang in three straight games, stamping their supremacy in the men's doubles event. The pair won 21/11, 21/12, 21/18 and never looked like they were going to give up the title to their compatriots. Speaking after the final, Yan Sen said winning the world championship was easier than winning the Olympic title. "I think we played very well in this tournament although I must admit I don't think our opponents were ever at their best at this tournament." Kong Linghui and Wang Liqin were both asked to comment on their singles final match tomorrow and both said they felt absolutely no pressure. Wang said that after playing so many non-Chinese players on the way to the final, he feels better facing a Chinese opponent.

CHINA WINS MIXED DOUBLES TITLE
The first attempt at preventing Asian powerhouse China from a clean sweep at the 46th World Table Tennis Championships was shot down in typical fashion by Qin Zhijian and Yang Ying. The Chinese pair grabbed the mixed doubles title, the first of five titles at stake at the individual events, by defeating Korea Republic's Koh Sang Eun and Kim Moo Kyo in three straight games. Qin/Yang won by identical scores of 21-15 in all three sets and never looked troubled by the Koreans who were playing catch up all the way. Oh, troubled by a shoulder injury, could not seem to get into the game leaving his partner with the heavy burden of winning the points. Kim later said that she was more than capable physically but playing in the final was psychologically draining and she just wasn't up to it. China's Yang Ying said it was a "normal" game for her and was made even easier by the fact that her partner Qin was playing above himself. "The result was expected although I must say the Koreans were not playing 100%." Yang said she was not surprised at winning the title despite the number of higher ranked Chinese pairs because she and Qin emerged winners of a warm up tournament before the championships. On winning his first major title, Qin added that since he did not compete in the team events, it was easier to focus on one event. "I spent most of my time planning strategies and studying my opponents. It was time well spent."

ALL-CHINA FINAL IN MEN'S SINGLES
China has won another title at the 46th World Table Tennis Championships without even playing the final match yet. This is because both players who have qualified for the final tomorrow are from the Asian table tennis powerhouse. Chinese Taipei's Chiang Peng Lung was the last hope of neutral fans who might have wanted to see a final which is not contested only by mainland Chinese players. The women's singles final later today will be contested by China's Wang Nan and Lin Ling while the men's doubles event immediately after that will be between Wang Liqin/Yan Sen and Kong Linghui/Liu Guoliang. Despite a morale boosting first ever win over Liu Guozheng earlier today, Chiang just could not get past world no 1 Wang Liqin in the semifinals. Even when he was leading 20-15 in the second game, having already lost the first Chiang never looked comfortable and his worst fears were realised when the Chinese ace kept reducing the deficit. Wang evened the scores at 20-20, took the next point but allowed Chiang to keep denying him the winning point till he won 24-22. Wang won the third game 21-14. Wang Liqin will meet Kong Linghui in the final tomorrow who defeated Ma Lin 14-21, 21-17, 21-13, 21-15 in the other semifinal. Kong who is to play the men's doubles later, was obviously not keen on a long drawn affair and chose to play a fast, aggrevive game. Ma Lin took the first set, easily meeting Kong's offensive play with confidence. But the remaining sets were just nothing more than a battle of attrition which the more aggressive Kong won easily.

NEW BALL GETS CHIANG LONG AWAITED VICTORY
Chiang Peng Lung clinched his first ever win over China's Liu Guoliang and attributed part of the success to the new 40mm ball which was introduced in September last year. The 4th ranked Chinese Taipei star had met and lost to his 5th ranked opponent on seven previous occassions, all when the older 38mm ball was still in use. The quarterfinal at the 46th World Table Tennis Championships was the first meeting between the two since the new ball was introduced. "I think he is still not used to the 40mm ball. I could sense that he was uncomfortable although his service was very fast," said Chiang. Chiang added that he was not expecting Liu to use his fast service and was not prepared for it in the first game. "It was then that I realised that he was using speed to make up for not being comfortable with the new ball. After that it was just a matter of getting used to it and hitting back with my backhand, my favourite weapon," he said. Chiang added that he eager to finish off the fourth game after leading 13-3 and made too many mistakes which allowed his opponent to catch up at at one stage lead 19-18. Chiang eventually won 21-19. "It was really a pity that I couldn't profit from coming back in the 4th game. I thought I got control but then when I had 19-17 Chiang Peng-Lung again became more aggressive. To be honest, at this World Championships I haven't been at my best," said Liu after the match.

KIM LOSES IN CONTROVERSIAL TIE TO WANG LIQIN
Korea Republic's Kim Taek Soo was knocked out of the men's singles event at the 46th World Table Tennis Championships after a controversial quarterfinal tie against Wang Liqin of China. The 31-year-old won the first game 21-15 but his inconsistency which has dogged his performance through the team and individual events saw him concede the second game 14-21. Kim was holding his own in the third game until controversy struck when the scores were tied at 15-15. Wang Liqin's shot appeared to have clipped the side of the table on its way out and the point was awarded to the Chinese world no 1. However, Kim was adamant that the ball had not touched the table and protested. The umpire upheld the decision after confirming with his assistant and told Kim to get on with the game. But the damage was already done and the visibly upset Korean conceded five straight points to the Chinese and only managed one before losing 16-21. In the fourth game, Kim was playing catch up all the time but did not seem to have his heart in the game. After staying close to the Chinese for the early part of the game, Kim seemed to lose his concentration and Wang won by a comfortable score of 21-13. After the game Kim was still adamant that the ball had not touched the table. He however insisted that the decision had no bearing on the game except for that particular point. He refused further comment. Wang on the other hand dismissed the incident and insisted that he was never in trouble despite losing the first game. "I was very prepared mentally for this and knew that I would win. I played well and did not make many mistakes." Wang remained confident of reaching the final match and added that it does not matter whether it was Liu Guozheng or Kong Linghui he meets in the final.

LAST OF THE EUROPEANS SENT HOME
China's Kong Linghui survived a late comeback by Vladimir Samsonov in the last men's singles quarterfinal match to be played at the Osaka Central Municipal Gymnasium today. The world no 2 ranked Chinese player won the first two games 21-15, 21-10 but a change in tactics by the Belarus player saw him losing the third 11-21. Spurred by the win, Samsonov went great guns in the fourth game and his aggressive play saw him leading 15-10 at one point. Kong played catch up all the way till the scores were level at 18-18 before he pulled ahead. Samsonov evened the score at 20-20 but the Chinese would take next two points and win 22-20. Samsonov admitted that losing the first two games would always make it difficult for him to catch up. "I was really trying in the first two games but somehow I was just not getting the points. He was winning most of them," he said. "I was a little unlucky in the end and it is too bad that I lost. I am prepared to play another game...now I must go home," he lamented. Kong admitted that Samsonov's change in tactic in the third game caught him offguard. "When he leads he plays more aggressive and that makes it difficult to play against him."
Kong will meet Ma Lin in the semifinal later today. Ma Lin defeated Liu Guozheng in an earlier all China the. The other semifinal will be between Chinese Taipei's Chiang Peng Lung and Wang Liqin.

4.5.: Na MS stolních tenistů zůstal ve dvouhře z Evropy jen Vladimir Samsonov
ÓSAKA (Japonsko) 4. května (Sportalasia, ČTK, www.pingpong.cz) - Asijští stolní tenisté vyhrávají na 46. mistrovství světa ve stolním tenisu v japonské Ósace souboj s evropskými soky. Bělorus Vladimir Samsonov zbyl jako jediný zástupce Evropy ve čtvrtfinále dvouhry mužů. V dnešních osmifinálových zápasech Samsonov porazil švédského veterána Jana-Oveho Waldnera.
Osmý nasazený Samsonov si na další postup v turnaji příliš nevěří. "Musel by se stát zázrak, abych porážel jednoho asijského hráče za druhým a došel alespoň do finále," smál se Samsonov. "Moc jsem je zde sice nesledoval, ale co jsem viděl, hrají skutečně impozantně," uvedl bývalý mistr světa Waldner na účet hráčů z Číny, Korejské republiky a Tchaj-wanu.
Wernera Schlagera poslal balit kufry šestý nasazený Liu Guozheng z Číny. Podle Rakušana má Čína dokonalý systém výchovy mládeže. "V Evropě nic takového neexistuje. Oni podchytí mladé talenty, dají k nim specializované trenéry a piplají je k dokonalosti," vysvětlil Schlager. "Rozdíl mezi Evropany a Číňany je i v tom, že oni mají jen stolní tenis, na který se plně koncentrují, zatímco my máme vedle sportu i jiná zaměstnání", dodal Rakušan.
V boji o postup do čtvrtfinále neuspěl ani další švédský veterán Jörgen Persson. Pětatřicetiletý stolní tenista neprodal své zkušenosti a podlehl o dvanáct let mladšímu Wang Liqin z Číny, současné světové jedničce. "V mém věku toho umím dost, přesto se dopouštím chyb. Zkušenost mi pomohla otočit první set ze 17:20 na vítězství, ale nevyužil jsem nabídnuté šance. Po vyhraném druhém a třetím setu z Wanga opustila nervozita a proti takovému hráči jako je on je potom téměř nemožné vyhrát," řekl Persson. Na konec kariéry nepomýšlí, chtěl by hrát na světovém šampionátu za dva roky v Paříži.
V dalších asijsko-evropských duelech přehrál Korejec Kim Taek-Soo Primorace z Chorvatska, Číňan Liu Guoliang Rumuna Crisana, Chiang Peng Lung nedal šanci Bollovi z Německa a přemožitel Petra Korbela Ma Lin vyřadil Němce Rosskopfa. Druhý nasazený Kong Linghui deklasoval Francouze Chilu.

V soutěži žen skončily poslední Evropanky, Rumunka Steff, bez zisku setu na raketě Kim Jun-Mi z KLDR a Rakušanka Liu Jia s Číňankou Lin Ling rovněž 0:3. Do semifinále dále postoupily tří Číňanky a hráčka Severní Koreje.
Ve finále smíšené čtyřhry vyhráli bronzoví z minulého MS, Číňani QIN Zhijian+YANG Ying nad jihokorejským párem OH Sang Eun+KIM Moo Kyo 3:0 po setech 21:15, 21:15, 21:15.

ČTVRTFINÁLOVÉ DVOJICE, dvouhra muži:
WANG Liqin (CHN)-KIM Taek Soo (KOR)
LIU Guoliang (CHN)-CHIANG Peng-Lung (TPE)
MA Lin (CHN)-LIU Guozheng (CHN)
SAMSONOV Vladimir (BLR)-KONG Linghui (CHN)

Wang Liqin (1. na světovém žebříčku), na minulém MS vypadl ve 3. kole s Francouzem Eloi, na OH 2000 se nekvalifikoval, avšak v posledním roce vyhrál vše, co se dalo, včetně Grandfinále ITTF Pro Tour v lednu v Yokohamě . Letos se KIM Taek Soo ještě na velkém turnaji neutkal.
Kim Taek Soo (9.) prohrál na minulém MS ve čtvrtfinále s Ma Lin (Čína), na olympiádě v Sydney prohrál s Němcem Bollem v 1. kole. V Grandfinále ITTF Pro Tour prohrál ve druhém kole se Samsonovem. Ve finále letošního Qatar Open prohrál 0:3 s Chorvatem Primoracem.
Liu Guoliang (5.) je obhájce prvenství z Eindhovenu. V Sydney prohrál v semifinále s Waldnerem a v Grandfinále ITTF Pro Tour prohrál ve čtrfinále s Ma Lin.
Chiang Peng Lung (4.) je vítězem pražského ITTF Pro Tour 1999. Jeho černou můrou je Liu Guozheng, který jej vyřadil jak na minulém MS, tak v Sydney na OH i v semifinále Grandfinále ITTF Pro Tour. Ve finále Croatian Open, posledního velkého turnaje před MS, prohrál s čínským veteránem Ma Wenge.
Ma Lin (3.) je finalistou minulého MS, ve kterém podlehl Liu Guoliang až 22:24 v pátém setu. V Sydney ve dvouhře nestartoval, v semifinále Grandfinále ITTF Pro Tour podlehl Wang Liqin 2:3.
Liu Guozheng (6.) se vyznamenal v semifinále soutěže družstev, kdy v rozhodujícm utkání odvrátil sedm mečbolů Kim Taek Soo a dostal Čínu do finále a k pozdějšímu vítězství. Na minulém MS podlehl ve 3. kole Primoracovi 2.3, v Sydney ve čtvrtfinále Perssonovi 1:3. V Yokohamě prohrál až ve finále s Wang Liqinem.
Vladimir Samsonov (8.) je Mistrem Evropy z roku 1998 a finalistou MS 1997 v Manchesteru, kde podlehl Waldnerovi. Na minulém MS podlehl Ma Lin ve 4. kole, v Sydney ve čtvrfinále opět Waldnerovi. Proto vítězství ve 3. kole nad švédským veteránem považuje za velký úspěch. V Yokohamě podlehl ve čtvrfinále Wang Liqinovi a na Croatian Open ve 3. kole Kreangovi z Řecka.
Kong Linghui (2.) je dvojnásobným olympijským vítězem ze Sydney a mistrem světa ve dvouhře z Tianjinu 1995. Na minulém MS podlehl ve čtvrtfinále Waldnerovi 2:3, a v Grandfinále v Yokohamě ve čtvrtfinále prohrál s Chiang Peng Lung rovněž 2:3. V Osace prohrál v semifinále soutěže družstev obě dvouhry s Korejci.
SEMIFINÁLOVÉ DVOJICE, dvouhra ženy:
WANG Nan (CHN-1.)-ZHANG Yingying (CHN-3.)
LIN Ling (CHN-14.)-KIM Yun Mi (PRK-59.)
V prvním semifinále dojde k repríze finále  MS 1999, kdy v Eindhovenu vyhrála Wang Nan 3:2 (-15, -14, 5, 12, 11).
Druhé semifinále svede dohromady LIN Ling (v Eindhovenu prohrála ve 3. kole s Csillou Batorfi 2:3) a nenasazenou KIM, velké překvapení turnaje, která nehrála ani v soutěžích družstev. Víme o ní jen to, že na letošním English Open prohrála ve 3. kole s krajankou KIM Hyang Mi a na Qatar Open ve 2. kole s Jihokorejkou KIM Moo Kyo.

4.5.: Sportalasia News
INJURED OH CREDITS KIM FOR WIN
(Sportalasia) Korea Republic's Oh Sang Eun credited his partner Kim Moo Kyo for their win in the mixed doubles semifinals at the 46th World Table Tennis Championships here in Osaka today. The lanky player said he was playing with an injury to his right shoulder and they both knew before the match that Kim would have to shoulder the burden of carrying them through to the final later today. "I am really grateful to her for taking on the added responsibilities to get us through. The injury would have been an easy excuse if we had lost but Koreans have won the final before and we want to emulate that," said Oh. In the match against Liu Guoliang and Sun Jin, the Koreans enjoyed briefs spells of domination and led by massive scores of more than five points at times but they allowed the Chinese pair to catch up each time. In the first game, the Korean pair led 13-6 at a time but allowed the Chinese to gradually catch up and even take the lead at 19-18 before Oh/Kim pulled their act together and clinched three points in a row to win. It was more of the same in the second game where the Koreans led for most of the game till the Chinese caught up at 12-12 and then pulled ahead before winning 21-16. The Koreans again led all the way in the third game and sticking to the script, gave the Chinese ample opportunity to catch up and lead 19-18. But again the Koreans' determination to win saw them through at 21-19. Having learnt their lesson, the Koreans did not take their feet off the pedal in the fourth game and romped  to a 21-15 win. Despite the worrying trend of letting big leads slip, Oh said he was always confident of winning. "The Chinese pair is a very strong pair but we knew we could get the points. We were not worried," he said. On the final against another Chinese pair Qin Zhijian and Yang Ying at 1830 today, Oh said they will play an aggressive game.
Qin/Yang defeated compatriots Zhan Jian and Bai Yang in the other semifinal which ended 21-18, 19-21, 21-18, 21-14.
 
END OF THE ROAD FOR PERSSON
Sweden's Jorgen Persson was left ruing missed opportunities after he was bundled out of the men's singles event by Wang Liqin at the 46th World Table Tennis Championships in Osaka today. Despite his wealth of experience the former 35-year-old World Champion could not force his way past his opponent who at 23 is the world's current highest ranked male paddler. Persson however dismissed that age was the major factor in his defeat to the young Chinese who won the match 20/22, 21/17, 21/16, 21/16. "At my age I should have all the advantage. I've been in these situations before and have experienced all, he has a lot to learn," Persson said. The experience did help him win the first game 22-20 despite being 17-20 down but mistakes in the second and third games gave the Chinese player easy victories and it was too far gone for even Persson to make a comeback. "I didn't take my chances well and when he won the second and third games he was under less pressure and could afford to relax. Unfortunately for me it was more difficult and against a player like him almost impossible," he said. Asked if the defeat could signal the end of his participation in the world championship series, Persson said only time will tell. "Yes I'm am getting old but after a tournament like this I feel like I want to keep going. Perhaps the individual events in Paris in 2003 could still be within reach."
 
ONLY SAMSONOV LEFT
Only one European among eight quarterfinalists in the men's singles event. Thats the woeful truth of Europe's performance at the 46th World Table Tennis Championships in Osaka. Even the remaining European, world no 8 Vladimir Samsonov, admitted that it would be tough to proceed further in the event. "I am in the quarterfinals but it would now take a miracle to beat one Asian after another to the final," said the Belarus player who ended was would probably the last World Championship outing for Sweden's veteran Jan-Ove Waldner today. Waldner himself admits the Chinese are very strong. "I haven't seem them play much in this tournament but from what little I have, they are all very formidable," he said.
Austria's Werner Schlager who was sent packing by Liu Guozheng 20-22, 22-20, 17-21, 10-21 concurred and said the Chinese have the biggest advantage in their youth system. "In Europe, we do not have the kind of system the Chinese have to unearth talented youngsters," he said, adding that unlike China it is not possilble for young players to turn professional. "You need specialised coaches to train young players in the techniques and styles from the very beginning." Schlager also added that  it was very difficult for a player in Europe to "live off" table tennis. Most he said would hold regular jobs and squeeze table tennis into their schedule."Look at the way Chinese players can concentrate fully on table tennis and you will know why they are a force to be reckoned with."
Of the seven Asian players left, five are mainland Chinese - Wang Liqin, Liu Guoliang, Ma Lin, Liu Guozheng and Kong Linghui. The other two are Korea Republic's Kim Taek Soo and Chinese Taipei's Chiang Peng Lung.
3.5.: Zpravodajství dne od Sportalasia
Čínská zeď zastavila Tchajwan
Wang Liqin a Yan Sen přežili vybojovaný comeback tchajwanské dvojice Chiang Peng Lung + Chan Yun Su vsemifinále mužské čtyřhry. Čínský pár snadno vyhrál první dva sety a i když měli blízko získání třetí setu v řadě, dovolili soupeři třetí set získat. Wang+Yan vyhráli první set 21:18, i když prohrávali 8:15. Druhý set byl pro ně snažší, když získávali mnoho bodů v řadě a dovolili soupři pouze deset míčků. Poté však polevili a dovolili Tchajwancům získat třetí set. Chiang a Chang skvěle využili příležitosti a získali pro sebe i čtvrtý set, což znamenalo velkou bitvu v rozhodujícím, pátém setu. Skóre bylo 12:12, když Číňané začali soupeřům utíkat. I když získali vedení 19:12, soupeř se vzpamatoval a snížil na 16:19. Číňané měli první mečbol za stavu 20:16, ale Tchajwanci dokázali snížit až na 19:20. Po krátké, ale intenzívní výměně získal čínský pár rozhodující bod. Chang Yun Su později řekl, že oba páry jsou vyrovnané a rozhodla momentální lepší forma Číňanů. "V naší hře nebyly rozdíly. Soupeř byl ovšem lepší." Wan Liqin, světový hráč č. 1, řekl, že si strašně přáli vyhrát a z toho pramenilo mnoho chyb, které dovolily Tchajwancům vyrovnat skóre. "V pátém setu jem věděli, že musíme hrát naprosto soustředěně nebo že riskujeme ztrátu zápasu."
Ve druhém semifinále si obhájci titulu Kong Linghui a Liu Guoliang snadno pradili s korejskou dvojicí Kim Taek Soo, Oh Sang Eun a postoupili do finále bez ztráty setu.
Mihaela Steff nechává evropskou vlajku stále vlát
[Sportalasia] Miheala Steff zůstává jedinou neasijskou hráčkou v pavouku ženské dvouhry, poté co v dramatické koncovce vyhrála osmifinále s Korejkou Kim Moo Kyo. Jediná další rodilá Evropanka v soutěži, Maďarka Krizstina Toth podlehla Severokorejské Kim Yun Mi ve třech setech 15:21, 9:21, 15:21. Další "Evropankou" je Asiatka v barvách Rakouska, vítězka dvouhry na MEJ 1999 ve Frýdku-Místku, 19-ti letá Liu Jia, která si celkem snadno poradila s Jing Jun Hong (Singapore), a po výhře 15:21, 21:15, 21:14, 21:14 se ve čtvrtfinále utká s Číňankou Lin Ling, která vyřadila světovou čtyřku, olympijskou vítězku ze Soulu 1988, Tchajwanku Chen Jing 21:15, 21:9, 21:10.
Dvě čtvrtfinále budou ryze čínská. Světová hráčka č. 1, světová i olympijská šampiónka Wang Nan se utká s 9. nasazenou Li Nan, zatímco Niu Jianfeng zkříží zbraně se světovou trojkou Zhang Yining. Wang Nan vyřadila poměrem 21:15, 21:14, 21:19 další nadějnou Korejku Kim Hyon Hui, která ze své soupeřky měla evidentní respekt.  Čínská hvězda později poznamenala, že hru soupeřky dobře znala ze společných tréninkových kempů v Číně. "Hrála jsem proti ní již víckrát a její styl velmi dobře znám".
Soupeřka světové jedničky ve čtvrfinále, krajanka Li Nan poslala domů Ryu Ji Hye z Jižní Koreje, když ji nepovolila ani set: 21:10, 21:8, 21:14.
Risk Mihaele vyšel
Sázka Mihaely Steff na dlouho nepraktikovaný bekhendový servis namísto jejího klasického forhendového se ukázala v osmifinálovém utkání jako velmi dobrý tah a velmi ji pomohla k výhře. "Byl to velmi obtížný zápas a od začátku (Kim Moo Kyo) neměla problém s mým forhendovým servisem. Musela jsem zkusit něco jiného a i když jsem bekhendový servis přestala před léty úplně používat, rozhodla jsem se jej zkusit," řekla Mihaela. Taktika byla účinná a Steff, která ve třetím setu již dost prohrávala, jej  dokázala otočit, když zmatená Korejka nedokázala svoji obranu včas přizpůsobit. O své čtrtfinálové soupeřce Kim Yun Mi toho Steff příliš neví až na to, že dokázala porazit několik silných soupeřek. Mladá Severokorejka porazila druhou nasazenou Li Ju (Čína) a patnáctku Krisztinu Toth z Maďarska. "Musím její hru nastudovat a přizpůsobit jí svoji taktiku."  Jako jediná neasijská hráčka v soutěži Steff potvrzuje, že proti Asiatkám je vždy velmi obtížné uspět. "Je mi docela líto, že jsem v soutěži zůstala jediná Evropanka," dodala sympatická Rumunka.
Pozdní porada Lin pomohla
Pozdní porada s koučem pomohla Číňance Lin Ling překonat její obavy v osmifinálovém utkání se zkušenou Chen Jing (4.). Lin, světová hráčka č. 11 podotkla, že z utkání byla nervózní a proto vyhledala pomoc čínských trenérů. "Měli jsme užitečnou debatu, diskutovali jsme o taktice proti Chen Jing. To mi pomohlo a byla jsem na utkání dobře připravena. Hrála jsem na 100% a měla jsem radost, že taktika skvěle fungovala," řekla Lin Ling. Reprezentantka Tchajwanu Chen Jing řekla, že se soupeřce cítila vystvena na pospas a neměla co hrát. "Výtečně nastudovala moji hru a bylo velmi těžké proti ní vyhrát". Na čtvrtfinálový zápas proti Rakušance Liu Jia si Lin věří. Její soupeřka, 18. nasazená Liu Jia, juniorská mistryně Evropy z Frýdku-Místku 1999, která vyřadila Singapurku Jing Jun Hong je stejně odhodlaná: "Jsem si velmi jistá svým servisem. Většina soupeřek s ním má velký problém," řekla Liu Jia. jak dále sdělila, proti Singapurce byla zpočátku trochu nervózní. "Ale po třetím setu jsem věděla, že už je jen malá pravděpodobnost, že bych zápas mohla prohrát. Bylo to super a nejlepší bylo, že jsem necítila ždáný tlak." Liu Jia věří, že její čtvrtfinálová soupeřka Lin Ling bude více pod tlakem. "Jednak je výše nasazená a je favoritkou a jednak jsem s ní již několikrát hrála a pouze jedenkrát jsem vyhrála. Nemám co ztratit," řekla.
Pestrost je Schlagerův způsob hry
Měnit servisy pomohlo Rakušanovi Werneru Schlagerovi překonat jednosetovou ztrátu a porazit Oh Sang Eun (Korejská republika). Schlager prohrál první set 15:21 a Korejec měl navrch i v druhém setu. "Viděl jsem, že je pro něj snadné, když jsem mu vracel údery backhendem zpátky do backhendu, takže jsem musel měnit taktiku svých podání a příjmů," řekl Schlager. Taktika přinesla divy a ačkoli set skončil jen těsným vítězstvím Rakušana 27:25, stačilo to, aby Korejec ztratil svoji jistotu a prohrál i zbývající sety 14:21 a 15:21. Oh Sang Eun řekl, že si po prvním setu věřil, ale Schlager změnil svoji hru a jeho údery bylo velmi těžké vracet. "Nebyl jsem schopný využít nabízenou šanci, kterou mi poskytl a ztratil jsem koncentraci. Schlager velmi dobře četl moji hru a věděl, jak mě vybodovat v druhém a třetím setu. Pak již jsem na zvrat neměl", řekl.
Bitva nejlepších přátel
I když jsou největšími kamarády, Jorgen Persson a Jean-Philippe Gatien spolu v osmifinálovém uitkání dvouhry mužů bojovali na život a na smrt a na konci zápasu si zasloužili obrovský nekonečný aplaus haly centrálního sportovního stadionu v Osace. Persson vedl již 2:0 na sety, ale jeho ztráta koncentrace dovolila Francouzovi dostat se zpátky do hry a získat další dva sety. Pátý set byl boj proporcí Bitvy Titánů, ve které byl nakonec Švéd úspěšnější. "Myslím, že to byl těžký a po celou dobu vyrovnaný zápas. Měl jsem více štěstí v pátém setu za stavu 19:19, kdy jsem dal dvě prasátka", řekl Jorgen Persson a dodal, že je rád, že má tento zápas za sebou a těší se na další kolo. Persson dále řekl, že proti Gatienovi je vždy těžké hrát. Jak se ví, oba jsou mimo hernu velkými přáteli a oba hrají francouzskou ligu. "Gatien se nikdy, nikdy nevzdává. Hraje a bojuje do posledního míčku a pokud se stoprocentně nesoustředíte na každý míč, můžete se dostat do vážných potíží," řekl.
Gatien sdělil, že byl velmi překvapen Perssonovou agresivitou v prvních dvou setech. "Jeho nasazení mě překvapilo a než jsem se vzpamatoval, prohrával jsem 0:2." Francouz řekl, že využil Perssonova momentálního výpadku, aby získal třetí a čtvrtý set, ale pátý rozhodující byl jako boxerský zápas. "Hráli jsme o každý míček a bohužel, štěstí se nakonec přiklonilo k soupeři a já vzdávám hold jeho vítězství a přeji mu všechno nejlepší ve čtvrtfinále!"
3.5.: Sportalasia News
STEFF KEEPS EUROPEAN FLAG FLYING
[Sportalasia] Miheala Steff remains the only non-Asian player in the women's singles event after surviving a gruelling encounter with Korea Republic's Kim Moo Kyo in the round of 16 at the Osaka Central Municipal Gymnasium today. The only other European player to have made it thus was was Hungary's  Kriztina Toth who could not overcome Korea DPR's young star Kim Yun Mi who won in three straight games 21-15, 21-9, 21-15. Although she plays for Austria, 19-year-old Liu Jia, as her name suggests if of Asian origin and had no difficulty overcoming Jing Jun Hong of Singapore, winning 15-21, 21-15, 21-14, 21-14. Liu Jia will meet China's Lin Ling who defeated world No 4 Chen Jing 21-15, 21-9, 21-10. There will be two all Chinese ties in the quarterfinals. World no 1 and Olympic gold medallist Wang Nan will take on 9th seeded Li Nan while Niu Jianfeng will lock horns with Zhang Yining. Wang Nan defeated another promising north Korean Kim Hyon Hui who was clearly in awe of her opponent. She won 21-15, 21-14, 21-19. The Chinese star later admitted that she knew all there was to know about the north Korean as the latter had trained often in China. "I have played with her several time and am quite used to her playing style." Wang Nan's quarterfinal opponent Li Nan sent Korea Republic's Ryu Ji Hye packing with three straight games, winning 21-10, 21-8, 21-14.

STEFF'S GAMBLE PAYS OFF
Mihaela Steff's gamble to switch from her forehand serve to her long forgotten backhand paid off as the move caught Korea Republic's Kim Moo Kyo offguard and gave the Romanian a slight advantage. "It was a very difficult match and from start she had no problems with my forehand serve. I had to try something different and although I had stopped using the backhand serve a few years ago I decided to give it a try," she said. The tactic worked and Steff who was down by a big margin in the third game managed to win a couple of points as the confused south Korean tried to readjust her defense. On her quarterfinal opponent Kim Yun Mi, Steff said she does not much about her but only that she has defeated some strong opponents. The young north Korean has defeated China's second seeded Li Ju and Hungary's 15th seeded Krisztina Toth. "I will have to study the way she plays and adjust accordingly." On being the only non-Asian left in the event, Steff said it was always difficult playing against Asians. "I am just very said to be the only European player to have reached the quarterfinals."

LATE DISCUSSION HELPS LIN
A late night discussion with her coach helped China's Lin Ling overcome her fears against playing world no 4 Chen Jing at the women's round of 16 at the 46th World Table Tennis Championships. The world no 11 admitted that she was nervous about the meeting and sought the help of the Chinese coaching staff. "We had a good meeting and discussed about tactics I can use against Chen Jing. That helped me and I was ready today. I play 100% percent and was delighted when the approach I had decided on worked very well," she said. Chinese Taipei's Chen Jing admitted that she felt exposed by her opponent and just could not play. "She had studied my game and it was difficult to beat her." On her match against Austria's Liu Jia tomorrow, Lin Ling remained confident. Her 18th seeded opponent, who defeated Singapore's Jing Jun Hong was equally confident. "I am very confident with my service. Most of my opponents have problems with it," Liu Jia said. Against the Singaporean, Liu Jia admitted she was a little nervous in the beginning. "But after the third set I knew there was little chance I will lose the game. It was very exciting and the best thing was that I felt no pressure."
Liu Jia believes her quarterfinal opponent Lin Ling would be under more pressure. "Firstly she is seeded higher and is expected to do well, secondly I have played with her several times and have only won once. So I will have nothing to lose," she said.

DIVERSITY IS THE WAY FOR SCHLAGER
Varying his serves helped Austria's Werner Schlager overcome a one game deficit to defeat Korea Republic's Oh Sang Eun. Schlager had lost the first game 15-21 and the Korean appeared very comfortable throught the game. "I knew he was finding it easy when I returned his shots backhand to backhand to I had to vary my serves and returns, switching back and forth so that he does not get used to it," Schlager said. The technique worked wonders and although it was a close match which ended 27-25 in the Austrian's favour, it was enough to unnerve the Korean who lost the two remaining games 14-21, 15-21. Oh said he felt confident of winning the match after clinching the first game but Schlager switched his approach and made returning shots very difficult. "I wasn't able to made good use of the chance he did allow me and that made me lose my concentration. Schlager read my game very well and he knew how to  counter me in the second and third games. After that I just could not lift myself," he said.

BEST FRIENDS BATTLE IT OUT
Although they are the best of friends, Jorgen Persson and Jean-Philippe Gatien fought tooth and nail for a place in the round of 16 in the men's singles event at the 46th World Table Tennis Championships and deservedly earn a thunderous round of applause at the end. Persson led by two games but a lapse in concentration allowed the Frenchman to fight back and win the next two games. The fifth was a struggle of titanic proportions for both players and the Swede prevailed in the end. "I think it was a hard match and closely fought all the way. I had a little bit of luck in the fifth game when we were at 19-19 and I had two net balls," he said, adding that he was happy to get this far and is looking forward for the next round. Persson added that it was always difficult playing against Gatien. He should know, they are fast friends off the court and both play in the French Table Tennis league. "Gatien never, ever gives up. He will keep running and fighting till the last point and when you let your concentration slip against him, you could get in serious trouble," he said. Gatien said he was surprised at Persson's aggressiveness in the first two games. "His approach took me by surprise and before I could recover I was already two games down." The Frenchman said he took advantage of Persson's apparent fatigue to clinch the third and fourth games but the fifth game was like a  boxing match. "We just played point to point and unfortunately luck was on his side at the last and I salute his victory and wish him all the best."

2.5.: Korbela čeká favorit, Číňan Ma Lin
(ČTK, foto Sportalasia) Ó s a k a  -  Stolní tenista Petr Korbel porazil v utkání druhého kola dvouhry na mistrovství světa v Ósace Rusa Maxima Shmyreva 3:1 a postoupil do třetího kola vstříc třetímu nasazenému Ma Lin z Číny. Ve čtvrtfinále skončila překvapivá cesta Richarda Výborného a Renaty Štrbíkové pavoukem smíšené čtyřhry. Čeští reprezentanti nestačili na favorizované Číňany Liu Guo-liang, Sun Jin a prohráli 1:3 na sety. Korbel vyhrál první set poté, co odvrátil setbol. "Vneslo to do mé hry pohodu," řekl Korbel. Český hráč měl zbytek utkání pod kontrolou a nevadila mu ani ztracená třetí sada. "Šestkrát mu vyšel riskantní úder, ale zůstal jsem klidný, protože jsem si říkal, že to nemůže trefovat pořád," popsal Korbel. Ve čtvrtém setu získal rychle vedení 8:2 a náskok udržel až do konce. Prubířským kamenem Korbelových kvalit se stane souboj třetího kola. Za stolem bude proti bundesligovému hráčovi Grenzau stát světová trojka Ma Lin.
"Los je trochu krutý, ale když se chci dostat dál, musím někoho porazit," tvrdil Korbel. "Favoritem je samozřejmě on, ale bez šancí nejsem," nevzdává se Korbel. Na jeho vítězství vypsali angličtí bookmakeři kurs 4,5:1, na Ma Lina 1,1:1. Ma Lin hraje razantně, údery rotuje a ovládá topspin z bekhendu. "Přesto se dá v bekhendu načapat," ví Korbel. Český hráč by chtěl zopakovat výkony ze soutěže družstev. "Všichni hráči s tužkovým držením, kteří na mě narazili, měli smůlu," vzpomněl Korbel. V týmech mimo jiné ve dvou setech 'vyřídil' čtvrtého hráče světa Chiang Peng Lung z Tchaj-wanu.
Výborného se Štrbíkovou dělilo od medaile jedno vítězství, ale na čtvrtý pár světa česká dvojice nestačila. "První dva sety jakoby nevěřili, že je mohou podusit," měl na tribuně dojem Korbel. Třetí set Výborný se Štrbíkovou dokázali vyhrát, ale ve čtvrtém jejich naděje na obrat v duelu pohasly. Český pár se podle Výborného zpočátku dostával do provozní teploty. "Asi jsme měli trochu respekt, proti nám stál olympijský vítěz a čtvrtá hráčka světového žebříčku," upozornil Výborný. Ve čtvrtém setu se utkání zlomilo za stavu 13:13. "Liu Guo-liang má i pro mě strašně záludný servis a podával na Renatu. Získal jim rozhodující náskok," popsal Výborný zlomový okamžik. Česká dvojice se dala poprvé dohromady čtrnáct dnů před šampionátem. "Nikdy předtím jsme spolu nehráli, ale oba máme oboustranný topspin a Renata výborný servis," chválil Výborný partnerku. "Účast ve čtvrtfinále je úspěchem už jenom z toho pohledu, že se mezi šestnáct dostaly dva evropské páry, v osmičce byl jenom jeden," vyzdvihl Výborný.
2.5.: China dominates mixed doubles
[Sportalasia] China will have three inevitable pairs in the mixed doubles semifinals tomorrow after Liu Guoliang and Sun Jin defeated the only remaining European pair Richard Vyborny and Renata Strbikova. The Chinese pair won 21-14, 21-13, 14-21, 21-17 and will meet will meet the only non-China pair left in the mixed doubles event.
Oh Sang Eun/Kim Moo Kyo beat Ko Lai Chak/Wong Ching in the other non-China quarterfinal tie and will face Liu Guoliang and Sun Jin. Zhan Jian/Bai Yang defeated defending champions Ma Lin/Zhang Yingying in another leisurely contested tie, winning 21-15, 21-14, 21-18. They will face Qin Zhijian/Yang Ying who beat Yan Sen/Li Ju.
Close Call for Korea
Kim Taek Soo and Oh Sang Eun almost let slip a victory in the men's doubles event quarterfinals after allowing their French opponents to come back from two games down to even the score. The fifth was final game was a nail biting affair with the Koreans showing a glimpse of the inability to clinch the deciding that dogged their team event semifinal defeat to China in which Kim Taek Soo held seven match points in the last match of a five match thriller. Against the French, the Korean pair led 2-0 and need just to clinch the third game against the struggling Jean-Philippe Gatien and Patrick Chila. However, the Frenchmen fought back and levelled the scores at 2-2. The fifth match was a very close affair but the Koreans held on despite dropping a few late points to win 21/18. French coach Partick Birocheau said even when the team was 0-2 down he knew there was still hope. "We know the Koreans get a little nervous when they are under pressure. So the guys did well to push them and get the two games." Oh Sang Eun said he thought match was almost done after winning the second game. "That was our mistake. We were too confident and lost our concentration and allowed them back into the game."
On their semifinal opponents Kong Linghui and Liu Guoliang, Oh said that working on both Kim and his strengths, it would be possible to defeat the defending champions. In another quarterfinal match, Chiang Peng Lung and Chang Yuan Su prevented one all China semifinal by defeating Ma Lin and Liu Guozheng. They defeated the Chinese pair 21/15, 26/24, 21/14 to set up a semifinal date with Wang Liqin and Yan Sen who defeated Lee Chul Seung and Ryu Seung Min (KOR). The Chinese Taipei pair were ecstatic with their win and said it is always wonderful to defeat their mainland cousins."You can't help but feel good. They are very, very good so defeating them is always an achievement.
Three Chinese pairs in women's doubles semi-finals
They may have suffered knocks in the women's singles event but the Chinese women are still very much in the running for the women's doubles title at the 46th World Table Tennis Championships in Osaka. In fact, as one of the semifinals will be an all Chinese affair, the Chinese are already assured of a place in the final. Defending champions Li Ju and Wang Nan will take on comrades Zhang Yingying and Zhang Yining while Osaka born Akiko Takeda and Mayu Kawagoe will try and stop the final from being an all Chinese affair by beating Yang Ying and Sun Jin. Wang Nan and Li Ju, the latter fresh from a defeat to Kim Hyung Mi in the women's singles, were in devastating form against Austria's Liu Jia and Judit Herczig winning in straight games. Herczig admitted the Chinese were just too good to play against and it was not a surprise that they lost 21/14, 21/14, 21/17. "To win against the Chinese you have to give 100% for every ball. We could not maintain that against them. They have strong attacking play and also very good at defending," she said. Zhang Yingying and Zhang Yining came very close to being dumped out of the women's doubles event by a young pair from Korea DPR. The Chinese pair lost the first two games but recovered well to take the remaining three. Zhang Yining said they were not familiar with the north Korean pair and had difficulty adjusting to their play in the first two games. "Of course once we could overcome that, we were mentally and physically prepared to win the match...and we did," she said. "It was the first time we have played against them and although we had difficulties at first there was really no problem. They tried too much with their topspin but it was not as good as ours," she said.
Croatians Tamara Boros and Eldijana Aganovic were unfortunate to have been drawn to face local favourites Mayu Kawagoe and Akiko Takeda. "We knew they were a strong pair. They are very good and have played together for a long time and with the home support, all the advantage was theirs," Boros said. Kawagoe was close to tears after the victory and dedicated the win to all the local fans, some of whom she has known since childhood. "I was born and raised here so it feels good to give the people I know something to cheer about," she said. Kawagoe said they were not thinking too much about strategy. We knew if we played with passion and determination, the result will come," she said. They will play against 1999 runners up Yang Ying and Sun Jin who defeated Korea Republic pair Lee Eun Sil and Suk Eun Mi. 
2.5.: TWO LEFT ON SAIVE'S LIST
[Sportalasia] Philippe Saive added another Chinese scalp to his name when he defeated Yan Sen in the men's singles round of 64 at the Osaka Municipal Gymnasium today. The 47th ranked Saive said he now only has Liu Guozheng on his "wanted list" of Chinese players. He has beaten all the other top Chinese players at least once and would love the prospect of meeting the two other Chinese stars at some stage in the 46th World Table Tennis Championships. "I love to play against the stars because that is when I find myself at my best. It takes a lot of training and repetitive schedules but at the end of the day when I get a victory like this it is worth it," he said. "I am happy to be in the last 32 and hope to go a step further. I made the last 32 the last time I was here in Japan and in 1993 I made the last 16. This time I want to go further than that," Saive said. The Belgian, who is also active in politics says he still has a couple of years left to play table tennis. "I will be 30 in July so of course I have to prepare for my future but my political career is still way behind my table tennis career," said Social Democrat Saive, who is a member of the City Council in Ans, near Liege. "At the moment, I want to concentrate on table tennis. I am helping the office of the Sports Minister as there are a lot of things in sports in my country that need improvement and I am only too hapy to help." On his further political aspirations, Saive said there are severel elections coming up in a few years and he might make a decision then.
CRACKS APPEAR IN CHINESE JUGGERNAUGHT
China's female table tennis contingent suffered two major setback's today after two of their top five ranked players were knocked out of the women's singles event at the 46th World Table Tennis Championships. First to go was fifth seed Yang Ying who was knocked out by 18th seeded Liu Jia of Austria in four games. She won the first game 21-17 but the Austrian Chinese's aggressive play took her by surprise and she never recovered and lost the remaining games 14-21, 16-21, 16-21. The Chinese star to go out in a sensational fashion was second seeded Li Ju who found 59th ranked Korea DPR teenager Kim Yun Mi an explosive opponent to deal with. Kim won 18/21, 21/18, 23/21, 21/17. It was a belated self-earned birthday present for the young north Korean who turned 19 on Saturday. Kim, like all the north Koreans, was a person of very few words but journalists with the help of a Korean translator managed to track her down after the match to squeeze a few words of of her. "I am very happy. She (Li Ju) played very hard in the first game but I told myself that I should and can beat her," she said, adding that the fact that her opponent seemed nervous and could not seem to adhere to one technique gave her more confidence. In the other surprise Chinese exit, it was fifth time lucky for Austria's Liu Jia who had lost to Yang Ying in four previous meetings. "She seemed a little nervous to me. I had no problems, today I was playing at 100%," a delighted Liu Jia said. She added that this was the first time she had played so aggressive against a Chinese player. "The last four times I played against her and lost. This time I was in better shape and was able to take the game to her. In previous meeting I always feared her because she is better ranked, this time I was more confident," Liu Jia said.
On her opponent in the round of sixteen, Liu Jia said she would rather face Singapore's Jing Jun Hong than Germany's Jie Schopp. The Singaporean defeated Schopp 19/21, 21/14, 14/21, 21/6, 21/12. "I have beaten Jing before, Schopp is more difficult to play against as she is a very defensive player."
There was a slight controversy in the match between Canada's Geng Lijuan and Romania's Mihaela Steff. Geng was warned by an assistant referee about discrepancies in the racket she was using in her match against Laura Negrisoli yesterday. But once it was ensured that the issue did not contravene the rulebook, she was allowed to play. The player was using rubber of a particular brand but not with the original sponge. Coach Mariann Domonkos said Geng had re-glued the rubber this morning but the official made the same protest. "At first they told her she has to change her racket but the chief referee later decided to allow her to play." Unfortunately, the 25 minute delay so affected the Canadian veteran the she decided she could not play on. She conceded a walkover to Steff.
Rising stars dump veterans in singles
(PETER WALKER, Agence France Presse, May 1, 2001 12:41 p.m. EDT http://www.sportserver.com) - Rising stars of the table tennis world had their moment in the limelight on Tuesday as top players were ejected from the world championship men's singles by young unknowns. The day proved a particularly grim one for Sweden, usually Europe's premier team, beginning when veteran Peter Karlsson was eliminated from the men's singles by the latest youngster to roll off China's ping pong production line. Zhan Jian, only 17 and a surprise inclusion in the Chinese squad with a world ranking of 167, used his aggressive style to good effect to batter the 31-year-oldreigning European champion and 16th seed into a 3-1 loss.  "I don't really know what to say," admitted a slightly shell-shocked Karlsson afterward.  "I did not play to my normal standards, I think I am a better player than him. But he is a young player with nothing to lose."  To compound Sweden's misery, young star Fredrik Hakansson, the world No. 36, was defeated by Li Ching of Hong Kong, ranked more than 100 places below him. Karlsson and Hakansson's bad day at the office was then completed in theafternoon when lower-ranked Russians Maksin Chmyrev and Fedor Kouzmine knocked them out of the men's doubles second round.
Also out of the men's singles draw in the first round was France's top player Christophe Legout, defeated by Thiago Monteiro of Brazil, a country not noted for its table tennis pedigree.  Monteiro, only 287 in the world, was understandably ecstatic about his 3-2 defeat of a player a full 271 ranking places above him.  "I have never played better in my life," said the 20-year-old. Legout said the Brazilian "kept coming at me like a boxer", forcing him back from the table with attacking shots. Other seeds in the men's draw such as China's Wang Liqin and Kong Linghui progressed safely, as did veteran Swedish stars Jan-Ove Waldner and Jorgen Persson, the 35-year-olds salvaging some pride for the battered Scandinavians.
In contrast the women's singles first round proceeded predictably, with China's seeds number one, two and three, Wang Nan, Li Ju and Zhang Yining, all winning their first two matches 3-0 with minimum effort and zero fuss. It was difficult to believe that earlier that day Wang and team-mate Wang Liquin, the women's and men's world singles number ones, had been sensationally bundled out of the mixed doubles by an unfancied pair from Hong Kong. Unseeded Ko Lai Chak and Wong Ching overcame their illustrious mainland opponents 2-1 in the third round tie. However the elimination was far from a crisis for the generally all-conquering Chinese.
Emphasizing their total domination of the modern game, no fewer than five of the eight pairs of players who won through Tuesday evening to the mixed doubles quarter finals were Chinese.  The only impediment to their progress appeared to be the draw, with four Chinese duos playing each other in Wednesday's next stage, ensuring at least one other nation would make it to the semi-finals.
1.5.: WORLD NO 287 SENDS FRENCH SEED TUMBLING
(Sportalasia) France's no 1 paddler Christophe Legout was another early seeded casualty in the men's singles event losing to Brazil's world no 287 Thiago Farias Monte Monteiro. The 15th seeded Frenchman likened the tie to a boxing match and said he was always in the corner playing defensive. "He kept coming at me like a boxer and the best I could do was to stay away from the table and try to return his shots." Legout said he was at a loss as to why his legs felt so heavy. The Frenchman lost 15-21, 22-20, 15-21, 21-19, 15-21. "The team events were not so taxing and I felt okay when I was warming up. It was only during the game that I got into difficulties," he said.
Monteiro on the other hand was not bothered whether or not his opponent was in his best form. "He was there and I was there. I won and that is all that matters. If he was not in his best form that is not my problem." "Legout is the highest ranked player I have ever beaten and it gives me great confidence. Of course, that match is behind me now and I am looking forward to the next game." "All I can say about this now is that I have never played better in my entire life."
CHINESE TEENAGER SHOWS EUROPEAN CHAMPION THE EXIT
European champion Peter Karlsson was knocked out of the 46th World Table Tennis Championships by a Chinese teenager in the first round of the men's singles event today. "I don't know what to say. I am a better player than he is and should have been able to defeat him," a distraught Karlsson said after the match. Karlsson said he didn't reach his normal standard and had difficulty lifting his game. he lost 22-20, 6-21, 21-19, 21-17. "Of course this was my first match for almost a week so it was difficult. I was a little unsure in my movements," he said. "It would have been easier for me if I had seen more action in the team events. Obviously this player had warmed up well in the qualifying rounds and playing against a seeded player like me he had nothing to lose." Karlsson did not get much of a run out in the team event and said he did was not sure why he was left out. "You have to ask the coach." Asked if it was frustrating for European players like himself to see young Chinese players kept being pushed into the fray and doing well, Karlsson said the Chinese play better when they are fresh. "European players mature into the game later and last longer. You don't see many Chinese players playing past 30. So it is unfair to make comparison on age," he said.
HONG KONG PAIR CONTINUE COLLECTING SCALPS
Ko Lai Chak just cannot believe his own form. He has sent top seeds tumbling in the individual events of 46th World Table Tennis Championships here and is looking forward to collecting bigger scalps. "I am finding it hard to believe myself. I've never felt this confident before and when I play I'm not nervous at all. This really feels good," he said after partnering Wong Ching in the mixed doubles round of 16. The Hong Kong pair defeated fancied Romanian pair Mihaela Steff and Adrian Crisan 21-8, 17-21, 21-15 to advance to the quarterfinals. Earlier this morning, Ko and Wong despatched the combination of the worlds highest ranked male and female players Wang Liqin and Wang Nan. "We knew when we took the first set against the Romanian pair that we were in with a strong chance," he said, adding that although the experienced Romanians won the second game, he felt confident of winning the match. Ko himself had played four matches today and won them all. Besides the mixed doubles victories, he partnered Li Ching in the men's doubles to defeat Kim Song Hui and Pak Won Choi of Korea DPR. The Hong Kong pair provided the shock result of the day yesterday after they defeated Swedish veterans Jan-Ove Waldner and Jorgen Persson.
In the men's singles first round today, Ko defeated yaldiz Gurhan of Turkey in the first round. Richard Vyborny gave full credit to his partner Renata Strbikova in their win over north Koreans Jong Kyong Chol and Kim Hyang Mi. "She was unbelivable today. I think that was the difference between our two pairs. She played much better than the Korean girl," he said. Vyborny said they had a lucky break in the first game when they were down 18/20. "We managed to get even and win 24/22. In the second game they got too far ahead of us and it was difficult to come back. In the third game the turning point was when the scores were level at 10/10, we pulled ahead and when Strbikova got the serve, she got us through." On being the only European pair left in the mixed doubles, Vyborny said they will try their best and match the Asians.
Of the eight pairs left, five are Chinese, one Hong Kong, one Korean and the Czechs.
TOP CHINESE PAIR KNOCKED OUT OF MIXED DOUBLES
China's ambitions to make a clean sweep at the 46th World Table Tennis Championships suffered a major setback when the dream combination of the world's highest ranked male and female players were sent crashing out of the mixed doubles event. China's Wang Liqin and Wang Nan were sent packing by an unfancied Hong Kong pair who are ranked way below them in the individual world rankings. Ko Lai Chak is ranked 130th in the men's ranking while Wong Ching, who defeated Sweden's Asa Svensson in the women's singles later is 53rd in the women's. The top Chinese pair started badly, losing 8-21 in the first game but looked very comfortable at the start of the second and took it at 21-14. But the Hong Kong pair was undeterred and pressed the mainland pair before taking the third game at 21-14. Chinese coach Li Xiadong said his pair was not really prepared as they had faced little opposition in the previous round. The win was a major boost for not only Hong Kong, who have long been trying to catch up with their mainland rivals and sometimes teachers, but also for all the other non-Chinese participants in the individual events. After the Chinese completed a clean sweep in both the men's and women's team events last week, a similar feat at the individuals events was thought to be highly likely. Wang Liqin especially will be under close scrutiny after a very poor outing in the team events. He lost to Timo Boll in the quarterfinals against Germany was dropped from further matches, losing his place to Ma Lin. However, despite the sensational loss, China are still well represented in the mixed doubles comprising six of the remaining 16 pairs. The surviving Chinese include title holders Ma Lin and Zhang Yinying. The fancied Austrian pair of Werner Schlager and Liu Jia also crashed out of the mixed doubles event losing to Korea DPR pair Jong Kwang Hyok and Kim Mi Young. The Austrians were put through a gruelling first game losing 32-20. The north Koreans won the second 21-18 to advance to the next round where they meet Richard Vyborny and Renata Strbikova.
1.5.: Na MS stolních tenistů zůstal Korbel
ÓSAKA (Japonsko) 1. května (ČTK) - Petr Korbel zůstal jako jediný z českých reprezentantů ve dvouhře po úvodním dnu hlavních soutěží na mistrovství světa stolních tenistů v japonské Ósace. O obrovské překvapení se ve smíšené čtyřhře postarali Richard Výborný s Renatou Štrbíkovou postupem do čtvrtfinále.
V prvním kole dvouhry mužů uspěl jen Korbel, který zdolal Řeka Vlotinose 3:0, i když třetí set vyhrál až 22:20. "Výhra byla povinností," přiznal Korbel. Český hráč si ulevil, že k postupu potřeboval jen tři sety. "Hodně favoritů se trápilo a někteří vypadli. Jsem rád, že to nepotkalo mě," upozornil Korbel na vyřazení mistra Evropy Petera Karlssona ze Švédska.
Ve středu Korbel nastoupí ve druhém kole proti Rusovi Čmyrevovi, kterého zná z německé ligy. "Je to takový blázen. Riskuje. Hraje rychle, někdy trefuje všechno a jindy nic. Už porazil hodně dobrých hráčů," přemítal Korbel.
Výborný se Štrbíkovou ve smíšené čtyřhře nejdříve porazili ve třetím kole Čmyreva a Melnikovou z Ruska a v boji o čtvrtfinále zdolali v dramatickém utkání Jong Kyong Chol, Kim Hyang Mi z KLDR. "Renata předvedla skvělý výkon, což byl klíč k postupu. Hrála mnohem lépe než Korejka," chválil Výborný Štrbíkovou.
V prvním setu Češi prohrávali 18:20, ale srovnali a sadu vyhráli poměrem 24:22. "Měli jsme hodně štěstí," komentoval průběh Výborný. Druhý set český pár prohrál a rozhodla třetí sada. "Odskočili jsme do vedení a konec zahrála Štrbíková výborně na podání. Dostala nás do čtvrtfinále," konstatoval Výborný.
V boji o semifinále se Výborný se Štrbíkovou ve středu střetnou s dvojicí Liu Guoliang-Sun Jin z Číny. "Pokusíme se udělat vše, abychom to dotáhli o kus dál," slíbil Výborný.
Ve dvouhře svedl Výborný pětisetovou bitvu s Japoncem Yuzawou. V páté sedě měl za stavu 19:19 možnost výměnu ukončit, ale soupeř se ubránil. "Měl šanci vyhrát. Škoda, protože měl solidní los," uvedl šéf výpravy Miroslav Bindač. Tomáš Pavelka, Martin Olejník a Marek Klásek favorizované soupeře nezaskočili. "Bojovali, ale na vítězství to nestačilo," hodnotil Bindač.
V soutěži žen vyhrály v prvním kole Jana Dobešová, Štrbíková a Alena Vachovcová, vypadla jen Ivana Weberová. "Postup tří do druhého kola byla paráda," těšil se Bindač. Ve druhém kole už české hráčky na soupeřky nestačily a vypadly. Dobešová trápila patnáctou nasazenou Tóth z Maďarska, ale prohrála pátý set 16:21. "Dobešová hrála super pingpong," sdělil Bindač.
30.4.: ANOTHER SWEDE SHOCK
(Sportalasia) A few days after relinquishing their men's team World Championships title, Sweden suffered another shock when veteran pair Jan-Ove Waldner and Jorgen Persson were knocked out of the men's doubles in the first round. The Swedes lost 21-15, 24-22 to unheralded Hong Kong pair Li Ching and Ko Lai Chak who only qualified for the main draw after having played in the qualifying groups. Swedish coach Ulf Carlsson shouldered part of the blame and said he had not been concentrating on the doubles pairs. "Both Waldner and Persson last played competitively together at the Sydney Olympics. We have not got them training together as often we should have because we were concentrating more on individual play," he said. Carlsson added that compared to other top pairs, Waldner/Persson had a tougher tie against the Hong Kong players.
"It would have been better for them to have started out against weaker opponents and that would have built up their understanding as they progressed," he said. Waldner echoed Carlsson's comments and said both he and Persson had hardly played together after the Olympics. "We knew it would be a tough match because I have played with Li Ching before when he joined my club Kalmar BTK for a season a few years ago. I knew he was a good player."
Li Ching, ranked 143 in the world was modest about the win and said they just concentrated on playing close to the table and not allow the Swedes' longer reach to come into play. "Of course we are happy with the win but there is still a long way to go."
30.4.: Stolní tenisté Pavelka, Klásek, Olejník uspěli v kvalifikaci MS
ÓSAKA (Japonsko) 30. dubna (ČTK) - Čeští stolní tenisté Tomáš Pavelka, Martin Olejník a Marek Klásek postoupili z kvalifikace do hlavní soutěže dvouhry na mistrovství
světa v Ósace. Jana Dobešová s Renatou Štrbíkovou dnes prohrály v prvním kole čtyřhry s Japonkami Keiko Okazaki, Ajou Umemura. Ve smíšené čtyřhře se dvojice Olejník, Dobešová dostala bez boje do druhého kola, v něm však nestačila na Rakušany Schlagera a Li Ju. Do druhého kola postoupili Richard Výborný s Dobešovou po výhře nad ukrajinským párem Prokopcov, Soročinska. Pavelka a Klásek prošli kvalifikací bez zaváhání, Olejník ve třetím kole povolil set Australanovi Johnovi Tawadrousovi. V hlavní soutěži změří Pavelka síly s Polákem Lucjanem Blaszczykem, Olejníka čeká osmý hráč světa Vladimir Samsonov z Běloruska a Klásek se pokusí zaskočit světovou dvojku Kong Linghui z Číny.
V úterním úvodním kole dvouhry mužů nastoupí rovněž Petr Korbel proti Řekovi Vlotinosovi, který vyhrál kvalifikační skupinu osmnáct. Richard Výborný se utká s Japoncem Juzawou.V soutěži žen nastoupí Vachovcová proti Italce Arisi, Štrbíková proti Jugoslávce Plavšič, Dobešová má za soupeřku Dipoyanti z Indonésie a Ivana Weberová Číňanku Ling Lin. Ženy mají v úterý na pořadu dvě kola dvouhry, muži pouze jedno.
Stolní tenisté Číny se stali mistry světa v družstvech
ÓSAKA (Japonsko) 29. dubna (ČTK) - Stolní tenisté Číny porazili ve finále soutěže družstev na mistrovství světa v Ósace Belgii hladce 3:0 na zápasy. Hráči Číny získali třináctý titul světových šampiónů, sedmý z uplynulých jedenácti turnajů. Čína překvapivě nepostavila ve finále světovou jedničku Wang Liqina, přesto finále dominovala. Jen Ma Lin ztratil set s Jeanem-Michelem Saivem. Liu Guozheng přehrál Philippa Saiva a Kong Linghui porazil Martina Bratanova.
Nejzajímavějším utkání světového šampionátu družstev bylo semifinále Číňanů s Korejskou republikou. Liu Guozheng odvrátil v pátém duelu s Kim Taek Soo sedm mečbolů a zajistil Číně postupový třetí bod. "Nedokáži vyjádřit, jak skvělé utkání to bylo. Snad nejlepší za deset let," řekl trenér Číny.
Weberová uspěla na MS v kvalifikaci
ÓSAKA (Japonsko) 29. dubna (ČTK) - Stolní tenistka Ivana Weberová postoupila z kvalifikace do hlavní soutěže dvouhry na mistrovství světa v Ósace. Podobně si dnes vedl pár Martin Olejník a Richard Výborný ve čtyřhře. Sítem kvalifikace naopak neprošla deblová dvojice Alena Vachovcová, Weberová a Vachovcová společně s Markem Kláskem neuspěli ani ve smíšené čtyřhře.
Dvacetiletá Weberová vydřela v prvním kole kvalifikace výhru nad Brazilkou Ligií Silva a ve třech setech pak zdolala i Bertu Rodriguez z Chile. V třetím kole si bronzová medailistka z juniorského mistrovství Evropy 1998 poradila se Suttilux Rattanaprayoon z Thajska. Weberovou čeká v prvním kole hlavní soutěže Číňanka Ling Lin, čtrnáctá hráčka světa.
Olejník s Výborným se v pondělí v hlavní soutěži střetnou s Poláky Lucjanem Blaszczykem a Tomaszem Krzeszewskim. Petr Korbel s Tomášem Pavelkou nastoupí proti německému páru Peter Franz, Torben Wosik. Zároveň je v pondělí na pořadu kvalifikace dvouhry mužů, do které zasáhnou čeští hráči Pavelka, Klásek a Olejník.
29.4.: CHINA COMPLETE DOUBLE IN TEAM EVENTS, EVEN SECOND BEST IS UNBELIEVABLE: BELGIANS, KONG PINES FOR A "SWEDE" REMATCH
(Sportalasia) They may have finished second best in the final of the 46th World Table Tennis Championships team events but as far as the Belgians are concerned, it was still an unbelieveable tournament. "No one expected us to come this far. We had an unbelieveable tournament and even finishing second would not diminish the joy we feel today," said Jean-Michel Saive. Of course, the elder of the Saive brothers in the team did reflect on what could have been had he taken advantage of his opponent's jitters.
Ma Lin seemed nervous in the first game and lost 18/21 and never really looked comfortable. Although the World Cup champion did take the second game easily at 21/7, he was shaky in the third and allowed the Belgian to lead 15/13. However, the Chinese camp called for time out and Ma Lin came back with his paddle blazing and took the next eight points without reply to win the match. "At that point, if I had taken another point it would have been a different story. But I had the chance and wasted it. Against China you have to take your chances." Jean-Michel Saive said if he could have taken the match against Ma Lin, China would have been under greater pressure and that could have made things easier for his brother Philippe and Martin Bratanov.
Philippe added that he felt good before the match and believes he gave a good account of himself. "I made some mistakes and was not returning his shots well. All those contributed and although I was really getting into the rallies, he was getting the points," he said. As for Bratonov, it has yet to sink in that he is part of the world's second best team. "Five days ago i would never even dream about being here today. I think it has yet to sink in."

(Sportalasia) China's Kong Linghui relished being part of a world champion team again but could not help express regret that it was not the Swedish team that was blown away by the Chinese storm in the final of the men's team event today. Last year, Kong Linghui was part of the team that was knocked off their throne by the Swedes at the last edition of the championships in Kuala Lumpur. "Of course if is good to be champions but I do wish it was the Swedish team that we had beaten in the final. It was very sad to see them get knocked out in the semifinal," he said. Kong Linghui said that with the next world team event being held in 2004, it is very likely that the veterans in the Swedish team like Jorgen Persson and Jan-Ove Waldner would not be around for another showdown. China's first player of the final Ma Lin admitted that he was a little nervous in the first game against Jean-Michel Saive. "I had played against him before and have never had this much trouble until now. maybe it could be because this is the first time I had played in a team event finals and the weight of the responsibility for the team was very heavy."

(Sportalasia)  China completed a double in the 46th World Table Tennis Championships team events when the men team outclassed Belgium 3-0 in the final match at the Osaka Municipal Gymnasium today. The victory put the men back on equal terms with the women's team who retained the title they won in Kuala Lumpur in the last edition of the championhips by defeating Korea DPR yesterday. The men's team who lost their title to Sweden in Kuala Lumpur last year, were all geared up to make up for the loss by reclaiming their title here, their 13th.
China retained the side which defeated Korea Republic in the semifinal yesterday and only dropped one game in the emphatic victory. Ma Lin, who gave an outstanding performance against Ryu Seung Min when he was fielded in place of the non-performing Wang Liqin, retained his position but faltered in his first game. The Chinese veteran allowed Jean-Michel Saive to lead in the early stages and although he caught up and even surpassed the Belgian, eventually lost 18/21. But with the weight of the strong Chinese fans on his shoulders, Ma Lin tore in to the the Belgian in the second game and hardly gave his opponent room to breathe. The overwhelmed Jean-Michel Saive could hardly get on the offensive and lost 7/21. Ma Lain also trailed the Belgian in the third game but showed remarkable prowess to win eight points without conceding one from being down 13/15 to win the game and match. Jean-Michel's younger brother Philippe fared worse against Liu Guozheng who despite his marathon match against Kim Taek Soo in the semifinal yesterday showed no fatigue and won easily in two games 21/18, 21/17. Philippe's doubles partner Martin Bratanov also could not claim a single game from his opponent Kong Linghui. Kong Linghui outclassed Bratanov who had not lost a single match yet in the team events 21/18, 21/19.

28.4.: CHINA RETAINS WOMEN'S TEAM TITLE
(Sportalasia) Defending champions China swept aside North Korea in the final of the women's team event at the 46th World Table Tennis Championships to claim their 10th title in the last 20 years. The only time the Chinese women were denied the title in the team events is the last two decades was in 1991 when they lost to a Unified Korea team. There could have been a repeat of that performance but a last minute decision put paid to the plans to have another unified team for this event. In fact, the North Koreans met and defeated their southern cousins in a hard fought semifinal match yesterday. One can only wonder what a unified team would have done for the Koreans. Olympic double gold medallist and world no 1 Wang Nan gave the Chinese the lead after an easy win against Kim Hyang Mi winning 21/15, 21/10 in under half an hour when the final match got underway today. World no 3 Zhang Yining had a harder time subduing her opponent Kim Hyon Hui who won the first game 21/18. However the 19-year-old Chinese paddler claimed the second game by a similar score. Kim Hyon Hui offered only token resistance in the third game and bowed out with Zhang Yining winning 21/13. Li Ju, China third but by no means less potent, also struggled in her first game losing 17/21. She had to overcome Tu Jong Sil to win the second game by 23/21 but too many unforced errors by the North Korean allowed the world no 2 and easy win at 21/14.
JOY AND DESPAIR AS CHINA OUTLASTS SOUTH KOREA
(Sportalasia) There was despair and for one team and joy for another but for the fans who packed the Osaka Municipal Gymnasium, it was a tie which gave non stop entertainment that would rival some of the rides at the Universal Studios theme park here in Osaka. For South Korean veteran Kim Taek Soo, it was probably his last attempt at defeating the Chinese at the World Championships but he still held his head up high. "Yes we lost an opportunity to defeat China but we have to look on the bright side of things. Our young players gave a good account of themselves and although I may not be in the team, I believe that South Korea can beat the Chinese in the near future." Kim was disappointed with his own performance especially having not taken advantage of seven match balls in the last two games in the fifth match against Liu Guozheng. "I know I should have done better but I realise I lacked the composure to finish the game and this cost me and the entire team a place in the final," he said. For Liu Guozheng, the match was just another that needed to be won and he did. "Of course there was pressure on me. But Kim Taek Soo also had the same pressure on him. This is a team event and of course when it comes down to the last set tension will indeed be high." he said. Chinese Vice-Minister of State Sports Li Furong, who is also the Chinese Table Tennis Association vice-president, said he had never witnessed a more exciting match as the one between the Chinese and the Koreans. "The match today was won by the team with the highest mental strength. Of course I rate Liu Guozheng as the best and he is the pride of China."
SAIVE BROTHERS LEAD BELGIUM TO VICTORY
(Sportalasia) Jorgen Persson will not forget the name Saive for a long time. His defeats at the hands of the Saive brothers paved the way for a Belgian victory over defending champions Sweden at the 46th World Table Tennis Championships in Osaka. Persson lost the first match 21/17, 17/21, 19/21 to the younger Philippe and then crashed out 12/21, 18/21 to the older Jean-Michel in the fourth and decisive match. Jean-Michel Saive was ecstatic with the victory over Sweden in the semifinal of the men's team event and said the result was quite unbelieveable. "Everyone expected the final to be contested by teams like China, Sweden, Korea, France and Chinese Taipei, I doubt anyone expected us to go through," he said. Jean-Michel who who did a small victory lap in the hall after defeating Jorgen Persson in the fourth and decisive match said the team knew the possible Swedish lineup and planned accordingly and with a little bit of luck managed to pull off an upset."It was the big victory by my brother which set this up for us. He played well and when he defeated Persson we knew we were in with a chance," he said. Jean-Michel also praise Martin Bratanov who has been undefeated thus far in the tournament. Asked about the possible meeting against China in the final by a Chinese journalist, Saive said:"We'll beat them 3-0." Of course he laughed this off and said it would be a tough match. At the press conference later, Jean-Michel was again asked if Sweden can be world champions and his reply:"Yes, but only if China miss the bus." "But then again they are facing South Korean and besides Sweden, the Koreans are the closest to the Chinese so we are still not sure of who we will be facing. But come what may, we are happy to progress so far in this event and we will just concentrate on playing our game tomorrow."
Philippe Saive was more optimistic and said that after beating Persson, the only top European player had not bested till now, he will be looking forward to the tie against China. "I've beaten Kong Linghui, Wang Liqin and Liu Guoliang before and so has my brother. So it will be an interesting tie I promise should we meet China."
Swedish coach Ulf Carlsson said Persson's defeat to Philippe Saive made things difficult for the team and although Waldner took a point by defeating Jean-Michel Saive, Fredrik Hakansson was under too much pressure. "Persson did not take his chances well and at this level, you have to take your chances, otherwise you lose."
27.4.: Stolní tenistky překročily na MS svůj stín
ÓSAKA (Japonsko)/PRAHA 27. dubna (ČTK) - S rozdílnými pocity ukončily české stolnětenisové týmy svá vystoupení v soutěži družstev na mistrovství světa v Ósace.
Ženy považují čtrnácté místo za výrazný úspěch. Muži skončili o jednu pozici hůř, ale s vědomím, že je od čtvrtfinále dělil jeden míč, nijak zvlášť spokojeni nejsou.
I když stolní tenistky podlehly v posledním zápase Bělorusku 2:3, oplýval trenér Aleš Sviták spokojeností. Kvarteto Alena Vachovcová, Renata Štrbíková, Jana Dobešová a Ivana Weberová odvedlo dle jeho názoru výborné výkony. "Jsem nadšený, moc spokojený, přestože to není medailová pozice. Holky jsou čtrnácté, čímž překročily vlastní stín," hodnotil Sviták.
Cenné bylo především vítězství nad Švédskem v základní skupině. Před šampionátem se Češky obávaly zápasů o udržení v elitní skupině. "Ale holky se přesvědčily, že mohou hrát se špičkou. Všechny hrály dobře, nemám nic negativního," líčil Sviták. Po dnu volna začne v Ósace soutěž jednotlivců. "Snad dílčí úspěchy z týmů zúročí i v singlech," přál si trenér.
Z mužů vyčnívá vysoko Petr Korbel a k němu trenér Chudík hledal alternativy. S výkyvy se na ostatních postech vystřídali Marek Klásek, Martin Olejník, Tomáš Pavelka
a Richard Výborný. V osmifinále zahrál Korbel životní zápasy, ale Klásek při mečbolu chyboval a postup do čtvrtfinále jemu i jeho spoluhráčům utekl mezi prsty. V zápasech o konečné umístění se český tým propadl na patnáctou pozici. "Skončili jsme patnáctí. Není to výrazný neúspěch, ale nelze jásat. Spokojeni zvlášť
nejsme, ale nepropadli jsme," přemýšlel Chudík. "Byli jsme jeden míč od postupu do čtvrtfinále. Když to nevyšlo, motivace trochu klesla," konstatoval český trenér.
V posledním utkání tým bez odpočívajícího Korbela otočil utkání s Tchaj-wanem, který odborníci před začátkem turnaje považovali za černého koně šampionátu. "Cením si morálky, kterou kluci předvedli. Je to částečné zadostiučinění. Alespoň se nám před soutěží jednotlivců zlepšila nálada," doplnil Chudík.
27.4.: Soutěže družstev na MS stolních tenistů v Ósace vrcholí
(Deník Sport) Českým týmům se na mistrovství světa ve stolním tenisu v Ósace včera nedařilo. Muži podlehli Bělorusku 2:3, ženy uhrály v souboji s Chorvatskem o bod méně, pak ale porazily Jugoslávii 3:1 a budou hrát o celkové 13. místo s Běloruskem.
Svěřenci trenéra Chudíka nastoupili proti Bělorusku se dvěma specialisty do obrany, přesto neuspěli. Nevyšla ani taktická změna, kdy jasný lídr týmu Korbel hrál na druhém místě v sestavě a místo něho zahajoval Výborný. Za stavu 2:2 však Korbel nepřehrál obranáře Ščetinina a družstvo se tak musí spokojit s duelem o 13.-16. místo proti Polsku. "Chtěl jsem se vyhnout souboji Korbela s Ščetininem, protože Petr toho měl po fantastickém výkonu v utkání s Koreou opravdu plné zuby. Nepodařilo se nám však porazit Samsonova, takže nakonec na jeho souboj s nepříjemným obranářem došlo," řekl k utkání trenér JIŘÍ CHUDÍK, který nechal tentokrát odpočívat dvojici Olejník - Klásek. MAREL KLÁSEK se snaží zapomenout na promarněný mečbol v duelu s Koreou, ale příliš se to nedaří. "Já bych se přes to přenesl hned, protože takových situací už jsem zažil hodně. Nikdy však ne na mistrovství světa v boji o postup do čtvrtfinále. Moc mě to mrzí hlavně kvůli spoluhráčům. Korbel předváděl skvělý ping pong. Celá hala sledovala naše utkání, Číňané, Němci, no zkrátka všichni. Na ten okamžik na konci druhého setu, kdy jsem měl na pálce postup mezi osm nejlepších mužstev, nikdy nezapomenu. Teď je ale třeba hrát dál. Čeká nás ještě závěr soutěže družstev a pak hlavně soutěž jednotlivců," pověděl Klásek.
Ženám se dařilo podobně jako mužům. Chorvatky vyrukovaly v nejsilnější sestavě, včetně jedné z nejlepších Evropanek Boros. Ta potvrdila svoje kvality, získala dva body a třetí přidala vítězstvím nad Dobešovou mladičká Paovic. "Myslím, že boj o 13. místo je na hranici našich možností. Vlastně je to nejlepší umístění za tu dobu, co jsem v reprezetnaci," hodnotí dvaatřicetiletá JANA DOBEŠOVÁ. "Chorvatky se určitě daly porazit, ale to by nám muselo vyjít úplně všechno. Třeba by Štrbíková musela porazit Boros, nebo já Paovic. Nevadí, proti běloruským obranářkám snad důstojně ukončímě soutěž družstev a pak už se budeme soustředit na kvalifikace jednotlivců."
We go to Paris and Doha
(26 April 2001 Peter Jensen, Media & Communication Manager)
Na výročním generálním shromáždění ITTF, konaném v Osace prošly velkou většinou následující návrhy na změnu pravidel:
1. Hraní do 11 namísto do 21: Sada končí, dosáhne-li hráč 11 bodů, přičemž hráč musí zvítězit alespoň o dva body. Podání se mění po každých dvou míčích. Zápas bude sestávat ze 4 vítězných sad ze sedmi nebo z pěti vítězných z devíti, podle druhu soutěže. Změna pravidla bude zavedena od 1. září 2001 a důvodem je, aby každý míček byl co nejdůležitější.
2. Změna pravidla o servise: Mezi síťkou a míčkem nesmí stát nic v cestě od okamžiku, kdy míček je připraven k servisu do okamžiku, než podávající hráč míček udeří pálkou. Změna pravidla je platná od 1. září 2002 a důvodem je, aby míček byl viditelný přijímajícímu hráči během provedení servisu.
President ITTF Adham Sharara je "velmi šťastný", že změny byly akceptovány.
The ITTF Annual General Meeting held on Thursday during the World Table Tennis Championships selected the host cities for the coming World Championships. ITTF already decided to divide the World Championships so that the individual event will be played in 2003 and the team event in 2004. Brazil (Rio de Janeiro) and France (Paris) were bidding for 2003 – and Paris won. 73 delegates voted for France, 45 for Brazil. Brazil originally also was bidding for 2004 competing with Qatar (Doha), but before the selection Brazil decided to concentrate on the bid for 2003 – without success, since France got the majority of the votes. This means that the team event in 2004 will be in Doha, Qatar.
Korbel musí častěji lepit, ale daří se mu
Pouhý jeden míček dělil české stolní tenisty od postupu do čtvrtfinále soutěže družstev na šampionátu v Ósace. V utkání s Koreou za stavu 2:2 vedl Klásek nad Oh Sang Eunem 1:0 na sety a 20:19. Bohužel, v nejméně vhodnou dobu ho zradil servis, který pokazil. Jednička týmu PETR KORBEL, který v utkání porazil i vynikajícího Korejce Kim Taek Soo, měl v rozhodujících chvílích rovněž "své prsty". Klásek totiž dohrával zápas s jeho pálkou. "Já mám na šampionátu trochu problémy s potahy, které se mi nějak často trhají. Proto je musím po každém zápase měnit. Markovi se stala nepříjemnost v duelu s Eunem, kdy v prvním setu zachytil pálkou o stůl a rozhodčí mu řekli, že si musí vzít jinou. Svoji náhradní neměl bohužel připravenu, takže jsem mu půjčil svoji. Je obdivuhodné, že s ní dokázal hrát vyrovnaný zápas a měl dokonce mečbol," řekl k rozhodujícím okamžikům včerejšího utkání Korbel.Šestnáctý hráč světa hraje v Ósace ve vynikající formě, a proto ho trochu mrzí, že se mužstvo neprobojovalo mezi osm nejlepších celků. "Máme trochu smůlu. Blíž, než jsme byli tentokrát, to snad ani nejde. Já jsem přitom proti Kimovi podal nejlepší výkon na šampionátu, Klásek hrál rovněž bezvadně, ale chybí nám udělat ten rozhodující krok." Korbel prozatím v Japonsku prohrál jediný zápas - s nepříliš známým Angličanem Herbertem. "Měl jsem v prvním setu pět setbolů a nevyužil jsem je. To už se mi dlouho nestalo. On v závěru šikovně schoval servis a já jsem pak kazil. Je dobře, že pak vyhrál Olejník nad Baggaleyem a my jsme pak Anglii porazili."
Čeští hráči obhájí pozice z loňského šampionátu v Kuala Lumpuru a skončí nejhůř do 16. místa. To je ale pro svěřence trenéra Chudíka málo. Při formě české jedničky chtěli určitě překvapit a probojovat se ještě o krůček výš.
České týmy skončily v Ósace před branami čtvrtfinále
Stolním tenistům se na mistrovství světa v japonské Ósace dařilo se střídavými úspěchy. Oba týmy postoupily do osmifinále a skončí nejhůře na šestnáctém místě. Muži porazili v 1. kole play off Anglii 3:1, ženy si poradily s Thajskem.
Angličané přijeli do Japonska bez obranáře Syeda a byli pro výborně hrající svěřence trenéra Chudíka poměrně snadnou záležitostí. Přestože se v utkání nedařilo Korbelovi, který prohrál s Herbertem, Klásek s Olejníkem získali dva body a česká jednička pak rozhodla o postupu mezi nejlepších šestnáct týmů. V boji o postup do čtvrtfinále Češi prohráli s Koreou 2:3 a dnes nastoupí ve skupině o 9.-14. místo proti Bělorusku.
Ženy rovněž potvrdily skvělou formu a zdolaly Thajsko 3:2. Pak ale prohrály s Japonskem 1:3 a budou hrát ve skupině o 9.-16. místo. Jejich soupeřkami budou Chorvatky.
Stolní tenisté do čtvrtfinále neprošli
Osaka (ČTK) - Oba české týmy postoupily na mistrovství světa ve stolním tenisu v japonské Ósace do osmifinále, oba v něm však prohrály. Ženy podlehly Japonkám 1:3 a čeká je ve čtvrtek boj o 9. místo proti Chorvatsku. Muži nestačili na Korejskou republiku a po těsné porážce 2:3 budou hrát v zemi vycházejícího slunce o deváté až šestnácté místo. Jejich prvními soupeři budou Bělorusové, kteří stejným poměrem podlehli Francii.
Opora české reprezentace Petr Korbel nezklamala a po výhrách nad dvojicí Oh Sang Eun, Kim Taek Soo získala dva body. Podobný
úspěch ale Marek Klásek ani Martin Olejník proti favoritům nezopakovali. Klásek bojoval o rozhodující bod s Korejcem Oh Sang Eun a byť vyhrál první set 21:15, ve druhém ztratil koncovku (20:22) a ve třetí sadě už neměl šanci (12:21).
25.4. České stolní tenistky prohrály na MS s Japonkami
Oba české týmy postoupily na mistrovství světa ve stolním tenisu v Ósace do osmifinále. Ženy však hned vzápětí podlehly Japonkám 1:3 a čeká je ve čtvrtek boj o 9. místo proti Chorvatsku. Muži porazili Anglii 3:1 a právě hrají s Korejskou republikou. V případě vítězství postoupí do čtvrtfinále, kde by hráli s vítězem utkání Francie s Běloruskem. Porážka je rovněž odsoudí k boji o konečné umístění na 9.- 16. pozici.
BIROCHEAU NOT PICKY OVER OPPONENTS
(25/4/01 10:09:29 PM Sportalasia) It may sound strange but French coach Patrick Birocheau does not want to wish for an easy quarterfinal opponent and he has a perfectly good reason for it. "Many times it has happened before when you wish for one opponent or the other, they end up being darkhorses and give you more trouble than a more established opponent would have," he said. Although knowing who the opponent is is crucial, Birocheau said thats all he wants and will not speculate on who will be the easier opponent. On the 3-2 win over Belarus, Birocheau said the 2 points lost was expected.
"Of course we were prepared for that. Vladimir Samsonov is a world class player and you have to concede that he would always be difficult to beat. He got the two points for them but we were banking on Jean-Philippe Gatien to deliver the winning point in the final game and he did." Gatien who clinched the victory by defeating Evgeni Chtchetinine admitted that it was a hard match and said he had to be cautious against the young Belarus player. "Although I lost to Samsonov I was happy enough to have played a good match against him."
WALDNER TO THE RESCUE
It wasn't the best of matches for Jan-Ove Waldner but as usual when the chips are down, Sweden can always count on its veteran hero. Jorgen Persson had lost the first match to Kreanga and Waldner had the tough task of securing the equalising point for his team against Ntaniel Tsiokas. "It was a tough match but at this level all matches are not going to be easy. It was difficult for me because they obviously had nothing to lose while we were under great pressure," said Waldner. "At least we can have some rest tomorrow but we will of course look at who our oppponents are in the next round and prepare accordingly," he said. The Swedes who eventually won 3-1 will face Austria who defeated Chinese Taipei in a five set thriller.
Austria's Werner Schlager said he will not be thinking too much about Sweden until the time to face them. "I will of course prepare accordingly but I must stress that as a team we will be under no pressure," he said. Schlager said defeating Chinese Taipei was already a great surprise and completely unexpected. "They are a tough team so beating them is an achievement. So anything more than this is really a big bonus for us," he said.
Tournament favourites China had to beat off a late fight back from the Netherlands. Yu Kalun defeated Olympic champion Liu Guoliang in the third match despite Wang Liqin and Kong Linghui having given China a comfortable 2-0 lead. Chinese coach Cai Zenhua was none to happy with his players and ticked off Wang Liqin for being off guard against his rival. Wang Liqin, who had defeated Danny Heister easily in the first set had lost the first set in the fourth match to Trinko Keen. He came close to losing the second as well but rallied to win and also clinched the third.
OSAKA (April 25 Kyodo News) Italy dashed the Japanese men's hopes of winning back-to-back medals in the team competition of the world table tennis championships Wednesday, denying the host a place in the quarterfinals with a surprise 3-0 victory.
HEROIC JUNKO HELPS JAPAN TO VICTORY
25/4/01 5:29:42 PM (Sportalasia) Junko Haneyoshi was determined to play for her country despite having just recovered from a fever and her sacrifice helped Japan to a 3-1 victory over the Czech Republic. Haneyoshi missed the last group match against Russia yesterday and the team struggled to a 3-2 win. Against the Czechs, her experience was in great demand so although she had just recovered from a fever, Haneyoshi did not hesitate when asked if she was able to play. "Of course I would play if I am able. I'm glad I did and helped my team. I have been practising non-stop for the last six months for this and would not miss any match." "I was a little heavy in the first set and lost but after that I got my wind and was able to finish the next two games strongly," she said.
Japan coach Konji Kohdo said An Konishi was not able to keep up with her opponent and thus had problems returning her shots. "She looked a little nervous and maybe the expectations and the pressure of playing in front of the home crowd got to her a little," he said. However, Kohdo is confident of a better showing by all his players againt Romania tomorrow. "As a team, we have had a lot of experience against them and we have also studied lots of videos on the Romanians. I think we all agree that their toughest player will be Mihaela Steff."
24.4. Čeští stolní tenisté na MS postoupili do play off
ÓSAKA (Japonsko) 24. dubna (ČTK) - Čeští stolní tenisté dnes dokázali ve druhém utkání na mistrovství světa v Ósace porazit Tchaj-wan 3:2 a ve skupině F vybojovali druhé místo. Češi postoupili do play off a pro příští šampionát se udrželi v elitní první divizi, do které patří čtyřiadvacet družstev.
Důležité utkání s favorizovaným Tchaj-wanem zahájil vítězně Petr Korbel, který zdolal Čchuan Čchih Jüan 2:1 na sety. Pak prohrál Marek Klásek se čtvrtým hráčem světa Čchiang Pcheng Lung 1:2 a Tomáš Pavelka nestačil na Čchang Jün Šu. Zpátky do zápasu Čechy dostal Korbel výhrou nad Čchiangem Pcheng Lungem a vítězný třetí bod přidal Klásek s Čchuan Čchih Jüan.
Stolní tenisté nastoupí ve středu v 5:30 SELČ v prvním kole play off proti soupeři, který vzejde z utkání baráže o elitní první divizi. V případě vítězství postoupí do osmifinále, porážka je odsoudí k boji o 17. - 24. místo.
Ve stejné situaci jsou české stolní tenistky, které rovněž obsadily druhé místo ve skupině. Rozhodlo o tom dnešní vítězství Singapuru nad Švédskem 3:0 na zápasy.
Stolní tenisté postoupili do play off
Ó s a c a (idnes.cz) - Čeští stolní tenisté dokázali ve druhém utkání na mistrovství světa v Ósace porazit Tchaj-wan 3:2 a ve skupině F vybojovali druhé místo. Češi postoupili do play off a pro příští šampionát se udrželi v elitní první divizi, do které patří čtyřiadvacet družstev. Stolní tenisté nastoupí ve středu v 5:30 SELČ v prvním kole play off proti Anglii. V případě vítězství postoupí do osmifinále, porážka je odsoudí k boji o 17. - 24. místo. Důležité utkání s favorizovaným Tchaj-wanem zahájil vítězně Petr Korbel, který zdolal Čchuan Čchih Jüan 2:1 na sety. Pak prohrál Marek Klásek se čtvrtým hráčem světa Čchiang Pcheng Lung 1:2 a Tomáš Pavelka nestačil na Čchang Jün Šu. Zpátky do zápasu Čechy dostal Korbel výhrou nad Čchiangem Pcheng Lungem a vítězný třetí bod přidal Klásek s Čchuan Čchih Jüan.
Stolní tenisté nastoupí v prvním kole play off proti Anglii a v případě vítězství se v osmifinále střetnou s Korejskou republikou. České ženy mají za soupeře v prvním kole Thajsko, na vítěze čeká v osmifinále domácí celek Japonska.
"Los se v obou případech docela povedl," hodnotil šéf české výpravy Miroslav Bindač. "Thajsko nikdo pořádně nezná. Mají hráčky čínského původu, ale dá se s nimi hrát," komentoval Bindač soupeře stolních tenistek. Muži nastoupí proti Anglii, které chybí dvě opory - Carl Prean a nebezpečný obranář Matthew Syed. "A proto jsme určitě mírnými favority," doplnil Bindač.
Štrbíková porazila hvězdné sesterské duo (DENÍK SPORT)
Neúspěšný vstup stolních tenistů na mistrovství světa v Ósace
Rozdílným způsobem vstoupily do soutěží družstev na letošním mistrovství světa v japonské Ósace oba české týmy. Muži byli proti Španělsku mírnými favority, přesto prohráli 2:3, ženy naopak senzačně porazily Švédsko 3:1.Základem úspěchu českých reprezentantek, které nastoupily bez zraněné Dobešové, byl výkon jedenadvacetileté Štrbíkové. Porazila obě sestry Svenssonovy a protože mladší Äsu (účastnice letošního TOP 12) přehrála i Vachovcová, bylo překvapení na světě. Ve druhém utkání sice prohrály se Singapurem 1:3, přesto je trenér ALEŠ SVITÁK se vstupem do soutěže velmi spokojen. "V družstvu je skvělá pohoda, a to bylo v duelu se Švédkami moc důležité. Vachovcová předvedla bezchybný výkon a měla švédskou jedničku porazit 2:0. Stejně tak Štrbíková. Dokazuje, že je to hráčka mimořádných kvalit. Způsob, jakým vyprovodila obě sestry, dává hodně nadějí i v dalších zápasech," pochválil své svěřenkyně. V odpoledním utkání proti Singapuru si zahrála i Dobešová, které se poraněné koleno rychle léčí. Zkušená reprezentantka získala jediný bod. České družstvo skončí pravděpodobně druhé (jen za mimořádné shody okolností by mohlo být první či třetí) a zbaví se starostí s udržením v elitní skupině. "Jana si ještě občas postěžuje, že ji koleno bolí, ale je vidět, že do zápasu jde naplno. Máme před sebou den volna, půjdeme povzbudit chlapy a už se těšíme na další zápasy," dodal trenér Sviták. Muži si na Španěly věřili, bohužel po velmi vyrovnaném průběhu odešli poraženi. Výborný nejprve hladce prohrál s veteránem He Zhi Wenem, pak sice Korbel nedal šanci Torresovi, ale klíčovým momentem byl souboj trojek. Olejník nebude na svoji premiéru na mistrovství světa vzpomínat v dobrém, protože prohrál s Machadem 21:23 ve třetím setu. Rozhodující bod pro Španěly získal vítězstvím nad Výborným Torres. RICHARD VÝBORNÝ byl po utkání velmi zklamaný, protože vyhrál první set 21:7 a měl třetí bod na dosah ruky. "Byl jsem v úvodu dost nervózní, a přesto jsem soupeři nedal vůbec žádnou šanci. Vlastní vinou jsem pak Španěla dostal zpět do zápasu. Polevil jsem v aktivitě, prohrál druhý set, a přestože jsem začal v tom rozhodujícím dobře a zpočátku vedl, udělal jsem pár zbytečných chyb a zápas prohrál." Výborného spoluhráč PETR KORBEL splnil roli české jedničky a oba své zápasy vyhrál. I za stavu 2:2 věřil v celkový úspěch českého týmu. "Měli jsme trochu smůlu. Olejník nevyužil ve třetím setu mečbol, Výborný zase umožnil svému soupeři zvednout hlavu. Nedá se nic dělat, nebyl to vydařený zápas, ale nic není ztraceno. Stále máme před sebou ještě dostatek příležitostí, jak se pokusit obhájit pozice z minulého šampionátu. Jen to bude trochu složitější," snažil se o optimistický tón Korbel. Češi dnes hrají s Tchaj-wanem a do play off o titul mistrů světa se mohou dostat, i když prohrají. V případě dalších neúspěchů už jim však bude hrozit i pád do výkonnostně nižší skupiny.
23.4. Stolní tenistky na MS prohrály se Singapurem 1:3
ÓSAKA (Japonsko) 23. dubna (ČTK) - České stolní tenistky prohrály v druhém utkání skupiny F na mistrovství světa družstev s favorizovaným Singapurem 1:3 na zápasy. V prvním utkání v japonské Ósace dnes Češky porazily Švédsko 3:1. V případě, že Singapur v úterý porazí Švédsko, nebo prohraje 2:3, obsadí Češky druhé místo ve skupině F a na další zápas v play off si počkají až do středy. Druhým místem ve skupině se české hráčky udrží mezi elitou pro příští světový šampionát.
V duelu se Singapurem získala jediný bod Jana Dobešová, která v sestavě nahradila Weberovou. Štrbíková prohrála dvakrát bez zisku setu, Vachovcová sebrala jednu sadu Li Jia Wei.
Stolní tenistky porazily na MS Švédsko, muži prohráli
ÓSAKA (Japonsko) 23. dubna (ČTK) - České stolní tenistky vstoupily do mistrovství světa družstev v japonské Ósace vítězstvím 3:1 nad Švédskem. Zklamáním naopak skončilo úvodní utkání českých mužů, kteří nečekaně podlehli Španělsku 2:3 na zápasy.
Dva body na konto českých stolních tenistek získala Renata Štrbíková, která zdolala Marii Svensson i Asu Svensson. Třetí bod přidala Alena Vachovcová po výhře nad Asou Svensson, prohrála pouze Ivana Weberová. Trenér Aleš Sviták nenasadil do hry kvůli zraněnému kolenu Janu Dobešovou. České reprezentantky nastoupí k druhému utkání proti Singapuru ještě dnes dopoledne.
Utkání mužů nezačalo dobře, Richarda Výborného hladce porazil He Zhiwe, ale poté si Petr Korbel suverénně poradil s Danielem Torresem. Zřejmě rozhodující duel svedl Martin Olejník s Carlosem Machadem. Český hráč prohrál třetí sadu v napínavé koncovce 21:23 a Španělsko vedlo 2:1 na zápasy. Druhý český bod pak získal jistě Korbel, ale Výborný následně nestačil na Torrese. Svěřenci trenéra Jiřího Chudíka nastoupí k druhému utkání skupiny F proti Tchaj-wanu v úterý. Pokud chtějí postoupit přímo do play off, potřebují nad silným soupeřem zvítězit.
13.4. Tisková zpráva ČAST
V pondělí 23. dubna začne v japonské Ósace 46. mistrovství světa ve stolním tenisu. Jaké jsou ambice družstev, kdo nás bude reprezentovat, na koho narazíme ve skupinách a další informace Vám přinášíme v následujícím materiálu.
Kdo nás bude reprezentovat
MUŽI: Petr Korbel, Richard Výborný, Tomáš Pavelka, Martin Olejník, Marek Klásek, trenér: Jiří Chudík
Náhradníci bez uvedení pořadí: František Krčil, Josef Plachý, Bohumil Vožický.
ŽENY: Jana Dobešová, Renáta Štrbíková, Alena Vachovcová, Ivana Weberová, trenér: Aleš Sviták
Náhradnice bez uvedení pořadí: Hana Bartošová, Dana Hadačová, Martina Smištíková, Iveta Vacenovská

Shodně ve skupinách F budou bojovat české reprezentace mužů a žen v soutěži družstev na nadcházejícím MS ve stolním tenisu v japonské Ósace. Losování stolním tenistům přiřklo za soupeře Tchaj-wan a Španělsko, ženy se o postup do play off střetnou se Singapurem a Švédskem.
Stolní tenisté by měli s Tchaj-wanem bojovat o první místo ve skupině, což by znamenalo přímý postup do osmifinále. Španělé patří k outsiderům. "Tchaj-wan to umí, bude určitě favoritem, ale dá se s nimi hrát," reagoval na los trenér mužů JIŘÍ CHUDÍK.
Oporou Tchaj-wanu je čtvrtý hráč světa Chiang Peng-Lung, v loňském roce vítěz pražského turnaje Pro Tour a letos v březnu finalista ze Záhřebu. "My máme zase Korbela," oponoval Chudík. Chiang Peng-Lung je hráčem bundesligového Düsseldorfu a v Ostravě v Lize mistrů porazil Františka Krčila. "Drží pálku tužkou, má solidní servis a vyvíjí obrovský tlak z forhendu. Hraje jednoduše, účelně a pořádně ostře," charakterizoval Chudík. Druhým hráčem je Chuang, 33. hráč světového žebříčku, který hraje 1. Bundesligu za Ochsenhausen. “Španěle nesmíme podcenit. Jejich družstvo spoléhá na naturalizovaného Číňana He Zhi Wen, který se pohybuje do 40. místa na světě,” varuje Chudík před hráči z pyrenejského poloostrova.

Těžkou roli budou mít stolní tenistky proti Singapuru. "Čert ví, co od nich můžeme čekat, ale jsou to Asiatky, takže budou určitě dobré," přemýšlel trenér ALEŠ SVITÁK. Papírově slabší bude jeho výběr v duelu se Švédskem, "Když zahrajeme mimořádně dobře, tak to nepovažuji za beznadějné utkání," mínil kouč.
Z osmi skupin první divize postoupí vítězové přímo do osmifinále. Druzí budou hrát kvalifikaci s lepšími z duelů, které obstarají třetí z elitních skupin a vítězové druhých divizí.

Rozdílné ambice mužů a žen
S jakým umístěním by jste byl spokojen ve družstvech?
Jiří Chudík: “Budu spokojen, když obhájíme pozice z minulého šampionátu, to znamená 9. - 12. místo. Když se probojujeme dále, bude to skvělé. Špatné by bylo spadnout do druhé divize.”
Aleš Sviták: “Úspěchem bude záchrana v první divizi. K tomu potřebujeme jednou zvítězit ze tří utkání a já věřím, že se nám to podaří.”
Miroslav Bindač, vedoucí výpravy: “Muži mají určitě šanci postoupit přímo do KO systému z prvního nebo druhého místa, pak bude rozhodující vylosování. Ženy mají těžkou skupinu, ale věřím, že se zachrání v elitní divizi.”

Jak vidíte šance v soutěži jednotlivců?
Jiří Chudík: “Úspěch bude postup mezi nejlepších 16, největší naději má samozřejmě Petr Korbel. Ale je to Mistrovství světa, bude tam spousta Číňanů, domácí Japonci se budou chtít ukázat, bude to hodně těžké.”
Aleš Sviták: “Vzhledem k tomu, že naše dvě nejlepší hráčky mají zdravotní problémy, budeme to mít v soutěži žen hodně těžké.”

Jaké je složení čtyřher?
Jiří Chudík: “Korbel hraje s Pavelkou, druhý pár ještě zkoušíme.”
Aleš Sviták: “Dobešová a Štrbíková, druhý pár tvoří Vachovcová a Weberová.”

Korbel se cítí v pohodě, Dobešovou bolí koleno
Naše největší naděje v soutěži jednotlivců jsou bezesporu Petr Korbel a Jana Dobešová. Shodně tvrdí, že šance v soutěži jednotlivců záleží především na vylosování.

Jak se před odletem cítíte?
Korbel: “Jsem v pohodě, ale nechci předpovídat, jakého umístění dosáhnu.”
Dobešová: “Zlobí mě koleno, dostala jsem sice silnou injekci, ale nemohla jsem kvůli ní spát. Snad se to během aklimatizace v Tokyu zlepší.”

Jaké jsou šance týmů v soutěži družstev?
Korbel: “Španěly musíme porazit, Taiwan jsou podle mého názoru černým koněm soutěže, protože mají výbornou jedničku Chianga, který může porazit kohokoliv, a to je při současném systému výhoda. I v zápase s námi budou favorité.”
Dobešová: “Je to velmi těžký los, ale je to mistrovství světa...Švédky jsou lepší, ale můžeme je porazit, za Singapur nastupují tři Číňanky, to hovoří o všem.”

Jaké ambice máte v jednotlivcích?
Korbel: “Bude to záležet na tom, kolik sil mi zůstane po soutěži družstev a jak se mi bude v Ósace hrát, nechci být prorokem. Určitě bude důležité vylosování”
Dobešová: “Postup mezi posledních 16 by byl super, ale bude záležet na vylosování.”

Nyní probíhá do neděle soustředění ve Frýdku-Místku. Česká výprava odletí do Japonska 16. dubna v 7.35 z ruzyňského letiště a týden stráví v tokijském tréninkovém centru firmy Butterfly.
Jan Hrnčiřík, Česká asociace stolního tenisu

4.4. Stolní tenisté na MS družstev nastoupí ve skupině proti Tchaj-wanu a Španělům
Shodně ve skupinách F budou bojovat české reprezentace mužů a žen v soutěži družstev na nadcházejícím MS ve stolním tenisu v japonské Ósace. Losování stolním tenistům přiřklo za soupeře Tchaj-wan a Španělsko, ženy se o postup do play off střetnou se Singapurem a Švédskem. Šampionát zahájí v pondělí 23. dubna.
Stolní tenisté by měli s Tchaj-wanem bojovat o první místo ve skupině, což by znamenalo přímý postup do osmifinále. Španělé patří k outsiderům. "Tchaj-wan to umí, bude určitě favoritem, ale dá se s nimi hrát," reagoval na los trenér mužů JIŘÍ CHUDÍK.

Oporou Tchaj-wanu je čtvrtý hráč světa Chiang Peng-Lung, v loňském roce vítěz pražského turnaje Pro Tour a letos v březnu finalista ze Záhřebu. "My máme zase Korbela," oponoval Chudík. Chiang Peng-Lung je hráčem bundesligového Düsseldorfu a v neděli porazil v Ostravě v Lize mistrů Františka Krčila. "Drží pálku tužkou, má solidní servis a vyvíjí obrovský tlak z forhendu. Hraje jednoduše, účelně a pořádně ostře," charakterizoval Chudík.

Těžkou roli budou mít stolní tenistky proti Singapuru. "Čert ví, co od nich můžeme čekat, ale jsou to Asiatky, takže budou určitě dobré," přemýšlel trenér ALEŠ SVITÁK. Papírově slabší bude jeho výběr v duelu se Švédskem, "Když zahrajeme mimořádně dobře, tak to nepovažuji za beznadějné utkání," mínil kouč.

Z osmi skupin první divize postoupí vítězové přímo do osmifinále. Druzí budou hrát kvalifikaci s lepšími z duelů, které obstarají třetí z elitních skupin a vítězové druhých divizí.

Trenér Chudík přivítá nominovanou pětici Korbel, Výborný, Pavelka, Olejník a Klásek na soustředění ve Frýdku-Místku od 9. dubna. Kvarteto žen Dobešová, Vachovcová, Weberová a Štrbíková se sejde o den později. Česká výprava odletí do Japonska 16. dubna a týden stráví v tokijském tréninkovém centru firmy Butterfly.

4.4. Olympijský vítěz ze Sydney se na světový šampionát do Japonska moc těší (Deník SPORT)
Poprvé na sebe upozornil v roce 1994, kdy ve svých osmnácti letech vyhrál neoficiální mistrovství světa juniorů a stal se seniorským mistrem Asie. O rok později porazil KONG LINGHUI (25 let) ve finále MS v Tianjinu svého krajana Liu Guolianga a stal se seniorským mistrem světa. O pět let později dosáhl na zlato i na olympiádě v Sydney.
Má už ve své sbírce všechny individuální tituly, kterých může stolní tenista dosáhnout. Možná právě proto se moc těší i na blížící se světový šampionát do Japonska, kde se chce opět poprat o nejcennější kov. Ať už se bude jeho kariéra vyvíjet jakkoliv úspěšně, zůstane v historii stolního tenisu navždy zapsán jako vítěz posledního velkého podniku s míčkem o průměru 38 mm - olympijského turnaje v Sydney. "Byla to určitě pro všechny velká motivace. Bylo hodně hráčů, kteří mohli pomýšlet na úspěch, a proto jsem moc rád, že se to povedlo zrovna mně. Ve finále proti Waldnerovi to nebylo zrovna lehké. Na předchozí olympiádě v Atlantě jsem byl ve skvělé formě. Neudržel jsem ji ale až do samotného závěru. před Sydney jsem zvolil jinou taktiku. Na turnajích Pro Tour jsem šetřil silami, nehrál jsem naplno a nechal jsem si dost energie na olympijský turnaj. Vyplatilo se to," vrací se ke svému úspěchu v Austrálii, kde navázal na výsledek Liu Guolianga v Atlantě.

Proti legendárnímu Švédovi začal skvěle a vyhrál první dva sety. Pak ale získal kontrolu nad hrou Waldner. "V rozhodující sadě jsem se snažil dostat co nejrychleji do vedení a to se mi díky tlaku z forhendu podařilo. Byli jsme oba hodně nervózní a myslím, že v semifinále jsme předváděli mnohem lepší stolní tenis. Tentokrát se však hrálo o olympijské zlato, proto ten obrovský tlak. Waldner je mimořádný talent. Proti nejlepším hráčům světa vyhrával už před dvaceti lety a stále si svoji výkonnost udržuje. Hraje hlavou a všechna ta léta se dokázal vypořádat s rozvojem stolního tenisu. S novými potahy, lepidly, technikou i taktikou. Opravdu, klobouk dolů."

Podle Konga je Waldner - společně s Perssonem - vzorem pro všechny špičkové hráče. Přestože třicítku překročili už před několika lety, stále se drží mezi absolutní světovou špičkou. "Věřím, že i já budu po třicítce stejně platným hráčem pro národní tým, jako jsou oni. Hrát za Čínu, to je obrovská výzva a čest. Samotný trénink v Číně je nesmírně tvrdý a sahá až na samotnou hranici lidských sil. Oproti Evropě je u nás mnohem více talentů, pro které je stolní tenis smyslem života. Obava ze špatných výsledků je proto pro čínského hráče větší, než kdekoliv jinde na světě. Já si přesto nedávám žádný časový horizont, kdy bych chtěl skončit. Zkrátka, dokud to půjde a bude mě to bavit."

O tom, že jeho největší soupeři v Evropě postupně stárnou, a snad jediný z generace mladíků je Bělorus Samsonov, čínský reprezentant příliš nepřemýšlí. "Máme teď před sebou mistrovství světa v Japonsku a tam mohou opět hráči jako Waldner, Persson, Saive, Rosskopf či Gatien uhrát dobrý výsledek. Je pravdou, že za nimi je věková propast, ale stačí dva tři roky a může se objevit opět talent typu Samsonova. Nebojím se, že by při popularitě stolního tenisu na celém světě nevyrůstali čínským hráčů stále noví a noví konkurenti. Bylo by samozřejmě velmi příjemné, kdyby se v Ósace radovala Čína opět ze zisku všech sedmi zlatých medailí. Budeme tradičně velmi dobře připraveni a máme hodně silná družstva."

Česká reprezentace - nominace
MUŽI:
Petr Korbel, Tomáš Pavelka, Marek Klásek, Martin Olejník, Richard Výborný
Náhradníci bez uvedení pořadí:
František Krčil, Josef Plachý, Bohumil Vožický.
ŽENY:
Jana Dobešová, Renata Štrbíková, Alena Vachovcová, Ivana Weberová
Náhradnice bez uvedení pořadí:
Hana Bartošová, Dana Hadačová, Martina Smištíková, Iveta Vacenovská
Trenéři: 2
Masér: 1
Lékař: ve spolupráci se Slovenskem
zpět MS 2001 *** back to WTTC 2001