China completed a clean sweep of all five titles at the World Table Tennis Championships yesterday, with world No. 1s Wang Hao and Zhang Yining claiming the men’s and women’s singles events.
The Chinese team dominated the event — held every two years — for the third straight time, with all-Chinese finals in each discipline. China also notched a clean sweep at the Beijing Olympics.
Wang Hao, who won the men’s doubles title with Chen Qi on Monday, made it a double victory with a 11-9, 13-11, 11-5, 11-9 win over three-time world champion Wang Liqin in the singles final.
Zhang, the Beijing Olympic gold medalist and the favorite this year, stormed back from two games down for a 10-12, 3-11, 11-2, 11-7, 11-7, 11-9 victory over world No. 2 Guo Yue.
Guo and Li Xiaoxia took the women’s doubles title, while Li Ping and Cao Zhen clinched the mixed doubles title.
Wang Hao, who won silver in Beijing, said his mental toughness had made the difference in Yokohama.
“I was very disappointed in the past championships and the two Olympic Games. But this time I prepared very well, since the Beijing Games. This is the result of that,” the 25-year-old champion said.
“Of course, it’s important to practice, but I learned that it’s also important to prepare well mentally. I’m in pretty good form since 2007 and I won the World Cup as well. I’m very confident right now,” he said.
“I’m very happy to become the singles world champion. My next goal, or dream, is to win the gold medal at the London Olympics in 2012,” added Wang Hao, who improved his record against rival Wang Liqin to 10-11.
Wang Liqin said: “I hadn’t expected that I would finish runner-up, so I’m quite happy with the result.”
On the women’s side, Zhang — who lost to Guo in the 2007 championships — stretched her head-to-head record against Guo to 10 wins and four defeats.
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