Hong Kong Prevents Chinese Clean Sweep in Russia

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

ITTF Press Release --

Hong Kong’s Ko Lai Chak and Li Ching won the Men’s Doubles title at the Eurosib Russian Open on Sunday 21st October 2007 and in so doing prevented a clean sweep of titles by China on the final day’s play in St Petersburg.

Seeded one, they beat the second seeds, China’s Chen Qi and Qiu Yike in a closely fought seven games final. It was the eleventh Men’s Doubles title of their careers; the victory puts them in equal second place on the all time ITTF Pro list with China’s Kong Linghui and Liu Guoliang and two behind the leaders Wang Liqin and Yan Sen, also from China.

Kong Linghu, Liu Guoliang and Yan Sen have all retired from international play and thus the top spot is well within the reach of the duo from Hong Kong.

The Men’s Doubles final was the only gold medal contest on the concluding day’s play that was not an all-Chinese affair.

In the Men’s Singles third seed Chen Qi beat top seed, Germany’s Timo Boll in the semis and Li Ping in the final, the latter having ousted Li Ching in the semis to reach his first ever ITTF Pro Tour Men’s Singles final.

It was a second career ITTF Pro Tour Men’s Singles crown for Chen Qi, whilst for Chang Chenchen in the Women’s Singles event it was her first. She beat Rao Jingwen, the winner of four titles at the Universiade in 2007, in the final with Hong Kong’s Lin Ling and China’s Peng Luyang being the respective runners up.

Disappointment for Peng Luyang in the Women’s Singles but success in the Women’s Doubles; partnering Li Nan the duo clinched the title, overcoming Chen Qing and Rao Jingwen in the final.

Men’s Singles
Semi-Finals
Chen Qi (CHN) bt Timo Boll (GER) 11-8, 11-7, 7-11, 6-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-6
Li Ping (CHN) bt Li Ching (HKG) 11-7, 11-5, 11-3, 11-3

Final
Chen Qi (CHN) bt Li Ping (CHN) 11-3, 7-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-1

Women’s Singles
Semi-Finals
Chang Chenchen (CHN) bt Lin Ling (HKG) 12-10, 11-9, 11-8, 11-13, 11-7
Rao Jingwen (CHN) bt Peng Luyang (CHN) 11-6, 11-6, 9-11, 15-13, 13-11

Final
Chang Chenchen (CHN) bt Rao Jingwen (CHN) 11-6, 11-9, 11-4, 5-11, 11-9

Men’s Doubles
Final
Ko Lai Chak/Li Ching (HKG) bt Chen Qi/Qiu Yike (CHN) 11-6, 11-8, 10-12, 8-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-5

Women’s Singles
Final
Li Nan/Peng Luyang (CHN) bt Chen Qing/Rao Jingwen (CHN) 11-6, 11-5, 11-8, 11-8

Photo: 23 year old Chen Qi overcame Li Ping to clinch Men's Singles gold in St Petersburg (Courtesy of ITTF)

Hong Kong Prevents Chinese Clean Sweep in Russia

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