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Wang, Guo defend their World Table Tennis title

Wang Liqin of China returns a ball to Hou Yingchao of China during their match at the World Table Tennis Championships in Zagreb on Friday. PHOTO: AFP

Wang Liqin successfully defended the mixed doubles title and remained on course for another two more on Friday, continuing Chinese domination at the World Table Tennis Championships.

Wang and Guo Yue defeated fellow Chinese Ma Lin and Wang Nan 13-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-9, 9-11, 12-10. Wang was also continued his march through the men's singles and doubles field.

He beat Hou Yingchao of China, 11-9, 11-9, 11-7, 11-6, to reach the semi-finals of the singles and teamed with Wang Hao for a place in the doubles final after beating Chang Yen-Shu and Chang Peng-Lung of Taiwan 11-6, 7-11, 11-8, 11-6, 6-11, 11-5.

The pair will meet Olympic champions Ma Lin and Chen Qi of China, who defeated Ko Lai Chak and Li Ching of Hong Kong, 7-11, 12-10, 11-6, 11-5, 11-7.

Despite their loss in the mixed doubles final, both Ma and Wang Nan remain in contention for titles in their respective singles and doubles.

The No. 1 seed in men's singles, Ma beat Leung Chu Yan of Hong Kong 11-9, 9-11, 11-3, 11-9, 11-7 to reach quarter-finals, as did European champion and third-ranked Timo Boll of Germany, who defeated Kalinikos Kreanga of Greece 11-6, 8-11, 11-4, 15-13, 11-4.

Defending her women's singles and doubles titles, top-seeded Zhang Yining advanced into the semi-finals of the singles, ousting Kim Kyung-ah of South Korea 11-3, 11-4, 11-6, 16-14. She will meet compatriot Gou Yue, who overcame Wang Chen of the US, 11-6, 11-6, 11-9, 7-11, 11-8.

In the other quarter-finals, second-ranked Wang Nan defeated Chinese countrywoman Li Xiaoxia 11-5, 11-6, 12-10, 14-16, 11-8, to set up a semi-final with third-seeded Guo Yan, who beat Peng Luyang of China, 11-6, 11, 6, 11-9, 7-11, 11-8.

The women's singles and the men's doubles were scheduled for yesterday, while the men's singles finals and the women's doubles are set for today.
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