Kuwait Open: Former World Junior Champions win titles

Monday, February 16, 2009

China’s Ma Long and Ding Ning, both former Word Junior champions, won the respective Men’s and Women’s Singles titles at the Salwa Cup Kuwait Open on Sunday 15th February 2009.

At the final hurdle, Ma Long overcame compatriot Wang Hao, the current world no.1 ranked male player, having beaten Ma Lin, ranked no.2 and also from China, in the semi-finals.

It was a superb display from the 20 year old as it was from Ding Ning, one year younger. She overcame Chinese national team colleague, Guo Yue, the reigning World champion in the final having overcome Hong Kong’s Jiang Huajun at the penultimate stage.

The victory marked a new milestone in the career of Ding Ning, it was her first Women’s Singles crown on the ITTF Pro Tour whilst for Ma Long it was his seventh Men’s Singles title; his first was in 2007 at the Salwa Cup Kuwait Open.

Success for China in the singles events and also in the doubles competitions where Chen Qi and Ma Lin, the reigning World champions and 2004 Olympic champions, gave a breathtaking display to overcome compatriots Hao Shuai and Ma Long.

A display of incredible excellence by Chen Qi and Ma Lin whilst for Guo Yue and Zhang Yining, after a faltering start, they found their form to beat Hong Kong’s Jiang Huajun and Tie Yana to clinch the top prize in the Women’s Doubles event.

Men’s Singles
SF Wang Hao (CHN) bt Timo Boll (GER) 11-8, 8-11, 7-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-7
SF Ma Long (CHN) bt Ma Lin (CHN) 11-9, 11-13, 11-1, 11-4, 5-11, 11-4
F Ma Long (CHN) bt Wang Hao (CHN) 11-5, 11-8, 11-4, 8-11, 11-8

Women’s Singles
SF Ding Ning (CHN) bt Jiang Huajun (HKG) 6-11, 11-6, 7-11, 17-15, 11-6, 5-11, 11-4
SF Guo Yue (CHN) bt Guo Yan (CHN) 4-11, 8-11, 11-6, 11-4, 11-5, 19-17
F Ding Ning (CHN) bt Guo Yue (CHN) 11-6, 9-11, 10-12, 11-9, 11-8, 11-7

Men’s Doubles
F Chen Qi/Ma Lin (CHN) bt Hao Shuai/Ma Long (CHN) 11-5, 11-5, 11-6, 11-6

Women’s Doubles
F Guo Yue/Zhang Yining (CHN) bt Jiang Huajun/Tie Yana (HKG) 9-11, 11-9, 7-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-3

More information at
http://ittf.com/_front_page/ittf_full_story1.asp?ID=17448

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