China Supreme in Qatar

Sunday, February 13, 2011

ITTF Press Release

China captured all four titles on offer on the concluding day of play at the Qatar Open in Doha on Sunday 13th February 2011, with 20 year old XU Xin closing the curtain with a breathtaking display against Germany's Timo BOLL.

Seeded no.9, XU Xin beat compatriot MA Long, the no.2 seed in the semi-finals in four straight games, before administering the same punishment to Timo BOLL, the no.1 seed, in the final.

It was a display of outstanding control combined with sheer power.

The Men's Singles was the one event on the ultimate day of play where there was a challenge to Chinese supremacy; at the semi-final stage Timo BOLL overcame ZHANG Jike, the no.4 seed, to book his place in the final.

Otherwise all other matches on show featured Chinese players.

In the Women's Singles event, 19 year old LIU Shiwen captured her fifth career ITTF Women's Singles crown; seeded no.6, she beat FENG Yalan, the no.11 seed, in the semi-finals and DING Ning, the no.7 seed, in the final.

Speed was the key to success, especially in the final where she faced a player in form; at the semi-final stage DING Ning, the winner at the English Open in January, had ousted top seed, GUO Yan.

Adversaries in the Women's Singles event but colleagues in the Women's Doubles competition, DING Ning and GUO Yan once again fell short of gaining the top prize.

Runners up to GUO Yue and LI Xiaoxia in the final of the Women's Doubles event at the H.I.S. World Championships in Yokohama in 2009, they suffered the same fate in the final in Doha.

Two silver medals for DING Ning but not for XU Xin; he partnered WANG Liqin to Men's Doubles victory and thus emerged as the tournament's most successful player.

At the final hurdle WANG Liqin and XU Xin beat MA Lin and ZHANG Jike.

Men's Singles
Semi-Finals
Timo BOLL (GER) bt ZHANG Jike (CHN) 3-11, 12-10, 11-13, 11-6, 11-4, 11-8
XU Xin (CHN) bt MA Long (CHN) 11-6, 13-11, 11-9, 11-7

Final
XU Xin (CHN) bt Timo BOLL (GER) 11-8, 11-5, 11-4, 11-8

Women's Singles
Semi-Finals
DING Ning (CHN) bt GUO Yan (CHN) 11-3, 13-11, 11-8, 11-9
LIU Shiwen (CHN) bt FENG Yalan (CHN 11-7, 11-4, 2-11, 11-5, 11-4

Final
LIU Shiwen (CHN) bt DING Ning (CHN) 11-4, 3-11, 11-7, 11-9, 6-11, 11-9

Men's Doubles
Final
WANG Liqin / XU Xin (CHN) bt MA Lin / ZHANG Jike (CHN) 11-7, 9-11, 12-14, 11-3, 11-8, 11-2

Women's Doubles
Final
GUO Yue / LI Xiaoxia (CHN) bt DING Ning / GUO Yan (CHN) 12-10, 7-11, 11-6, 11-8, 13-11

Read more: http://www.ittf.com/_front_page/ittf_full_story1.asp?ID=23260&Competition_ID=2012

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China Supreme in Qatar

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