Ma Lin Retains Qatar Open Crown

Monday, March 24, 2008

China’s Ma Lin and Zhang Yining emerged as the most successful players at the Erke Qatar Open Championships in Doha on Saturday 22nd March 2008.

In the third ITTF Pro Tour tournament of the year, Ma Lin retained his Men’s Singles title and won the Men’s Doubles crown with compatriot Chen Qi; whilst Zhang Yining repeated the success gained one week earlier at the Salwa Cup Kuwait Open. She clinched the Women’s Singles crown and partnered Guo Yue to the Women’s Doubles title.

Seeded two, Ma Lin overcame number three seed and national team colleague, Wang Liqin in the semi-finals before beating top seed, Wang Hao, also from China in the final. At the penultimate stage Wang Hao had ended the progress of twenty year old rising Chinese star, Zhang Jike; un-seeded, Zhang Jike was playing in his first ever ITTF Pro Tour Men’s Singles semi-final.

Gold in the Men’s Singles for the number two seed whilst in the Women’s Singles event it was the top seed who showed why she occupies the number one spot in the world rankings. At the semi-final stage Zhang Yining overcame colleague Wang Nan before accounting for her Beijing Capital club team mate Guo Yan in the final.

Seeded five, Guo Yan had defeated eighth seed, Hong Kong’s Jiang Huajun in the semis.

Meanwhile, in the Men’s Doubles event Ma Lin partnered Chen Qi to victory over Ma Long and Zhang Jike in an all-China final; whilst Guo Yue and Zhang Yining overcame the Koreans, Kim Kyung Ah and Park Mi Young in the Women’s Doubles final.

Men’s Singles

Semi-Finals
Wang Hao (CHN) bt Zhang Jike (CHN) 11-7, 5-11, 11-6, 11-9, 12-10
Ma Lin (CHN) bt Wang Liqin (CHN) 11-9, 11-5, 11-5, 11-9

Final
Ma Lin (CHN) bt Wang Hao (CHN) 11-9, 11-4, 11-9, 4-11, 8-11, 15-13

Women’s Singles

Semi-Finals
Zhang Yining (CHN) bt Wang Nan (CHN) 11-7, 9-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-3, 6-11, 11-9

Guo Yan (CHN) bt Jiang Huajun (HKG) 11-6, 9-11, 11-7, 9-11, 8-11, 11-2, 11-3

Final
Zhang Yining (CHN) bt Guo Yan (CHN) 11-5, 11-8, 11-5, 11-9

Men’s Doubles
Final
Chen Qi/Ma Lin (CHN) bt Ma Long Zhang Jike (CHN) 11-9, 11-9, 12-14, 11-5, 11-4

Women’s Doubles
Final
Guo Yue/Zhang Yining (CHN) bt Kim Kyung Ah/Park Mi Young (CHN) 11-3, 11-6, 11-5,
9-11, 11-4

ITTF Press Release

Related Articles

• Spanish Open: Oh Sang Eun Beats Local Hero
• Polish Open: Lee Sang Su Overcomes Alexander Shibaev
• German Open: Zhang Jike Proves Unbeatable
• UAE Open: Four Titles for Fourth Time for China
• China Supreme in Qatar
• English Open: China Totally Dominant
• Slovenian Open: New Generation Strikes Gold in Velenje
• Jun Mizutani Captures KAL Cup Pro Tour Grand Finals Men’s Singles Crown
• Polish Open: Winners Secure Passports to Grand Finals
• Austrian Open: Sensational 24-year old Apolonia defeats Boll in final

← View all Articles